Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger 'pushing' Jack Wilshere to sign extension with midfielder in final months of contract

James Benge27 March 2018

Arsene Wenger says he will push Jack Wilshere to stay at Arsenal as the end of the midfielder’s contract looms large.

Wilshere’s current deal expires at the end of the season and progress over an extension has stalled, with Arsenal’s offer understood to include a reduction in his basic wage, though with significant performance-incentivised elements.

Earlier this month the 26-year-old hinted the offer was not satisfactory to him, though speaking after those comments Wenger insisted “nothing has changed”.

The impasse could lead to Wilshere, a target for Italian giants Juventus and AC Milan as well as Everton, leaving his boyhood club after nearly 17 years but Wenger hopes to convince the playmaker to extend his Arsenal stay.

Wenger told beIN Sports: “I can only reassure him that I want him to stay and we have made him a proposal and after that we also have to accept that Jack is at an age where he will have offers from somewhere else.

“Personally, I have put my weight in for him to stay, I push him to stay and I think he’s an Arsenal man.”

Wilshere has left the England squad and returned to Arsenal as part of his recovery from a knee injury that, though sufficiently minor that he is in contention for Sunday’s game against Stoke, represents another frustrating setback for the playmaker.

His absence for friendlies against the Netherlands and Italy has led to questions over whether Wilshere will make the England World Cup squad, though Gareth Southgate insisted it was not too late for Wilshere.

Wenger believes that if he could get back to “full power” Wilshere would be a regular in Southgate’s side.

“[AC Milan head coach Gennaro] Gattuso said that he’s got the technique of a Spanish player and the character of an English player and I think that’s well judged and that’s why you want him to stay,” Wenger said.

“As well Jack has gone through situations where he’s had long term injuries and you hope in the next three or four years he will be injury free and you’ll see the real Jack Wilshere.

“He went to the European Championship and, basically, he didn’t play. He came on a few times but Jack Wilshere in full power, full fitness is a regular player in the England national team.”

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