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Arsenal Braced For Big-Money Bid – Is It Time To Do Business?

By on April 28, 2015

The Jack Wilshere to Manchester City stories are doing the rounds in the newspapers again today with the Mirror claiming that the Citizens are set to launch a £30m move for the midfielder.

City are planning a huge summer overhaul of their squad after a disappointing season and are looking to build an English core to help meet their homegrown quota.

Wilshere is believed to be a key target and the soon-to-be former champions are now ready to step-up their interest by tabling a £30m bid.

These rumours have been circulating for months and Arsene Wenger insisted a few weeks ago that he no longer had to sell his key men to the likes of City.

When quizzed about City’s interest in Wilshere earlier this month, Arsene said:

“You can imagine my answer.”

“We are not in a position where we have to sell our best players.”

Gone are the days when we had to sell the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Kolo Toure, Gael Clichy, Samir Nasri and Bacary Sagna to City. We no longer need their money.

However, is this a transfer that we should be considering?

Jack has obvious injury problems with his ankles and some believe they will follow him throughout the rest of his career. Having missed the entire 2011/12 season through injury, Wilshere has struggled to stay fit for longer than a few months at a time.

He managed an average of 34 appearances per season between 2012-2014 but a series of ankle problems have restricted him to just 16 in all competitions this campaign. We just can’t rely on him to stay fit and available for selection, and there are rumours that this is finally starting to grate on Arsene.

The papers believe the boss has no intention of letting Jack leave and despite the 23-year-old having over 3 years left on his contract, a new deal is understood to be in the offing.

However, those in the know suggest that privately, Arsene is disappointed at how Jack has progressed in recent years and his injury problems are becoming a real cause for concern.

That’s not to say we will sell if City come calling, but with Wilshere now firmly behind Santi Cazorla, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey in the pecking order, he’s not the vital first team player many thought he’d become.

There is also speculation suggesting that Wilshere himself is becoming agitated at his lack of action since returning to fitness and he’s concerned that he’s no longer considered a first team starter.

It’s a difficult situation. I personally think we should hold fire on the new contract and give Jack next season to prove himself. If he stays fit, he has the potential to be a real star and he’ll force his way into the first team.

However, if injury problems continue to hold him back then perhaps we may have to consider selling next summer. As much as I’d hate to see one of our own leave, there’s no place for sentiment in football. We held on to Diaby for far too long, let’s not make the same mistake with Jack….