Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, 25, will entertain all offers in January as he seeks to claim a place in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for Russia 2018, according to The Times.
When Wilshere sought a loan spell to prove his fitness last season, Sampdoria were the only Serie A side to show a genuine interest in Eddie Howe’s watchful eye at Bournemouth. Had he not suffered an injury at White Hart Lane, there was a genuine prospect of Wilshere leaving the Emirates this summer.
However, Arsenal oversaw his recovery and two starts in recent cup matches offered the prospect of a permanent return to the starting line-up. Arsène Wenger recently commented that this is a vital phase of Wilshere’s Arsenal career.
The Frenchman observed that his young protege needed to play ten matches between now and Christmas to earn himself a new deal at the club. His performances against Köln, Doncaster and BATE Borisov marked the England midfielder as the natural successor to Mesut Özil, 28, when the German eventually leaves next summer.
England boss Gareth Southgate is, the report claims, in constant contact with the Arsenal medical team but wants to see Wilshere in action for himself before calling him into the squad. Harry Winks, the untested Tottenham youngster, was called into the squad for the final two World Cup qualifiers.
Southgate has two November friendlies to view Wilshere, as well as helping Arsenal to make a decision over arguably the most talented Englishman currently in the Premier League.
