Jack Wilshere was quite likely to draw an end to his attachment at Emirates last summer but revived sensationally of late shaking off his well-documented injury nightmare behind and was close to signing a new deal a few months back. Football, however, is a game of unpredictability and the Gunners’ fan favourite is once again in exit talks after rejecting a new deal as per latest reports.
The 26-year-old England international, currently on £120,000-a-week, was asked to take a pay cut of at least 25 percent that he declined and is now unlikely to extend his stay beyond this season. Plenty of Premier League counterparts have expressed their desire to lure the midfielder in on a Bosman deal and city rivals Chelsea are reportedly one of the prime candidates to acquire the Arsenal ace.
The Gunners, meanwhile, are in a complete mess currently and the fans are fuming over Arsene Wenger’s stubbornness to continue as the Arsenal boss amid a frenzy of rage. The Frenchman handed Wilshere his senior Premier League debut back in 2008 at this age of 16 years and 256 days that made him the youngster ever league debutant for the Gunners.
He rose to fame at a very early age but injuries ruined his growth as one of the Three Lions finest of all time and was loaned out to AFC Bournemouth last year to regain his full fitness. He had a decent campaign on the South coast but was yet to convince Wenger about his long-term future at North London. Wilshere, however, recovered the lost ground but has only a few months left to his current deal to expire.
The bookies are already predicting his next destination and Newcastle United (7/4) and West Ham United (2/1) are the frontrunners as per Ladbrokes. Chelsea are the next in line with a 5/2 and the possibility of adding another Englishman ( after Danny Drinkwater and Ross Barkley) cannot be written off completely. The Blues have completed a winter deadline transfer for the ex-Gunners hitman Olivier Giroud and the midfield sensation might now reunite with his former teammate at Southwest London.
Chelsea, too, are struggling immensely under Antonio Conte and have slipped down to the fifth spot of the Premier League tally behind Tottenham Hotspur. The summer, as well as winter recruits, have not left any impression yet and the French midfield sensation Tiemoue Bakayoko has been the biggest disappointment. Conte’s future hangs by a thread at Stamford Bridge as the Italian, despite reconquering the Premier League throne last season, is unlikely to be retained beyond this season.
The former Juventus and Azzurri gaffer has kept no secret regarding his discontent over club’s transfer policy and is certainly not happy with the tools he has been forced to use here in his second season in charge. Wilshere is undeniably a huge talent and can ensure a place in any under any manager only if he remains fit and delivers persistently week in week out. He has proven his worth with distinction and a move at Stamford Bridge might offer him the chance to take his game to the next level at a very critical phase of his football career.
