If reports are to be believed, then North London giants Arsenal are now holding out a meagre amount of £9 million for their once-star player, Jack Wilshere. After a mixed season at Bournemouth, the midfielder has returned to Emirates with yet another injury missing their pre-season tour to Australia.
This is the 13th time, Wilshere has been injured in his professional career. Whether it is an ankle injury, knee injury or a hairline fracture on the calf bone, Wilshere has always been gone for long since donning the Arsenal shirt. He has missed over 180 games in the last eight years with the North London club and they have now decided to offload him.
Manchester City- The Manchester outfit would definitely remain the first choice for Jack Wilshere and his well-wishers. And it’s not because Arsenal’s asking price won’t matter a penny to the millionaire club, but Pep Guardiola at the helm could definitely take the English midfielder to the zenith he deserved. Compared to Steven Gerrard when he first came to the fore from Arsenal’s academy, Wilshere has only achieved half of what he was touted to.
Of course, his injuries have been frustrating for Wenger and it could be the same for the Spanish manager, but if Wilshere stays fit for the duration he was last season, under Eddie Howe at Bournemouth, then we could see something magical at the Etihad. No current English player would adapt to Guardiola’s free-flowing ultra-fluid setup better than the 25-year-old and with the likes of Sergio Aguero and Kevin De Bruyne around him, he could unleash his ultimate potential.
Bournemouth- With the Cherries breaking their transfer record to get in Nathan Ake from Chelsea, Wilshere’ petty £9 million price tag shouldn’t matter for them. Vitality Stadium has been a good ground for the English playmaker and Howe, like Wenger, understands the pressure points of Wilshere.
Of course, Wilshere wasn’t expected to flourish last season with the likes of Stanislas Junior, Benik Afobe and Jordan Ibe ahead of him. And now with a poacher like Jermain Defoe available ahead of him, we expect Wilshere’s productivity to increase manifold. Besides that, Howe has been found to use him more wisely, in a position where he was to go into fewer tackles and incur more injuries. Wilshere took a knock only in the dying stages of the season, remaining one of the most important players for Bournemouth last season.
Crystal Palace- Let’s be honest, with World Cup coming up next year, Sampdoria is not really an option for Wilshere, not next season at least. He has to stay in England and prove himself. England’s footballing history is littered with carcases of such examples- players having world class talents but cursed with injuries.
He still has a chance and Crystal Palace could give him that. Though Frank De Boer hasn’t quite got the players so far, the work is in progress. The Eagles are willing to invest in the Dutch legend’s vision and Wilshere could be the pivotal piece to it.
