In a recent segment with The Beautiful Game podcast (transcripted by HITC), former Arsenal striker Benik Afobe believes that Everton could move in for Bournemouth playmaker Jack Wilshere in the summer if he can impress in the remainder of this campaign. Afobe said,
“It’s a win, win. It’s six months, so if he doesn’t like it he’s not tied down.
“If he does like it and they go up – he can say look what I’ve done for you guys.
“It’s just about getting his name out there. And getting games under his belt again.
“The problem is people think he’s not fit. It’s the stigma. If he plays 20 games, does well, gets a few goals and a few assists like the other day – the Evertons will be calling him, maybe even the Aston Villas, because they like those sorts of players.”
Wilshere’s Recent Form At Bournemouth
Wilshere joined the Cherries as a free agent back in January and has since caught the eye for putting in a couple of impressive displays recently. The ex-Arsenal midfielder has featured in eight matches for Bournemouth this term, finding the back of the net twice while providing one assist across various competitions.
The 29-year-old has failed to be consistent with his offensive contributions at the Vitality Stadium as he is averaging 0.3 shots, 0.8 key passes and 1.2 dribbles per game in the EFL Championship. Still, Wilshere deserves a pat on the back for completing 88.1% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
What Does The English Talent Bring To The Table?
Wilshere has lost a yard of pace from his game but can still be a decent dribbler with the ball from midfield. He has a wide range of passes in his locker and can distribute possession accurately without breaking a sweat.
The Stevenage-born sensation is quite aggressive when challenging for loose balls in midfield and possesses the quality to play a killer pass in the attacking third. However, Wilshere has been injury-prone throughout his career, so he will be a risky acquisition for any top club, including Everton, as he is not dependable enough to play week in week out.
Is Wilshere The Right Fit For The Toffees?
At the moment, Everton can use someone of Wilshere’s experience and creativity off the bench as he will serve as a good back-up to Andre Gomes, Abdoulaye Doucoure, Tom Davies and Allan. At 29, the English playmaker is about to embark upon the twilight years of his playing career, so he won’t be a long-term option for the Toffees. With all things considered, Wilshere is not a good fit for the Merseyside outfit as he is way past his prime and could struggle to prove his worth in Premier League football in the coming seasons.
