Arsenal to open contract talks with Wilshere in summer

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that the London-based club are set to open contract talks with midfielder Jack Wilshere, who has been on loan at Bournemouth this season, in the summer.

The 25-year-old midfielder’s current contract with the club expires in 2018, and Arsene Wenger, in an interview with Skysports, has insisted that they will discuss his future at the club after the end of the season. The Englishman, who had joined Bournemouth on loan at the start of this season, has suffered a fractured leg during Eddie Howe’s side’s 4-0 defeat at the hands of Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday. According to BBC, scans have revealed a hairline crack on Wilshere’s left fibula, and he is set to miss the remaining five matches of the season.

However, Wenger has assured that this recent setback will not affect the contract negotiations, and he expects Wilshere to return for the preseason preparations.

Since joining Arsenal’s academy at the age of nine in 2001, Wilshere has 159 appearances for the Gunners in a career which has been plagued by injuries. After the arrival of Mohamed Elneny and Granit Xhaka last year, Wilshere had dropped down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium. In order to gain regular first team action, the English midfielder had joined the Cherries.

The England international has been a regular fixture in Eddie Howe’s side but just when it seemed like he would complete a season without facing any injuries, Wilshere had to be substituted in the 56th minute of their match against Spurs on Saturday after being at the receiving end of a rough tackle from Harry Kane.

Arsene Wenger has expressed his disappointment over Wilshere’s recent injury but is hopeful that he will not require another surgery, reported Skysports. The Frenchman has said that he is following the situation closely and that the Arsenal medical team are in contact with Bournemouth regarding his status. However, Wenger has confirmed that he will remain at Bournemouth until the end of the season before continuing his rehab at Arsenal in the preseason.

Image – Getty