Wilshere still waiting on Arsenal contract as window approaches

Arsenal have made no offer to extend Jack Wilshere’s contract, even though the midfielder is less than three weeks away from being able to negotiate with other clubs.

Theo Walcott and Petr Cech have also not begun discussions over deals that expire at the end of next season, although the most pressing concerns are with Wilshere, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, who are out of contract in June. Yet, whereas Arsenal have been trying for more than a year to extend the contracts of Ozil and Sanchez, there is nothing on the table for Wilshere, who scored his first Arsenal goal in two years in Thursday’s Europa League win against BATE Borisov.

Walcott also scored and, like Wilshere, needs firstteam football to have any chance of regaining his place in the England squad ahead of the World Cup.

Wilshere is unlikely to be loaned out and, while his desire has always been to stay at Arsenal, his preference for a move is to stay in London or the South. Crystal Palace and West Ham United are interested but would represent gambles given their positions in the relegation zone.

Wilshere will be able to talk to clubs from abroad in January but may prefer to fight for his place at Arsenal, knowing he would probably have more options in the summer when he will be available on a free.

Southampton and Everton are interested in Walcott and his situation is likely to be resolved in the summer. Cech, 35, is most likely to extend his deal.