Arsenal transfer news: Jack Wilshere demanded loan move during crisis talks with manager Arsene Wenger
Injury-jinxed midfielder, 24, is yet to start a game for the Gunners this season and has been axed from England squad
JACK WILSHERE demanded to leave Arsenal on loan during crunch talks with Arsene Wenger.
The injury-jinxed midfielder, 24, is yet to start a game for the Gunners this season and has been axed from the England squad.
Incredibly, he is now Arsenal’s SIXTH CHOICE central midfielder since the arrival of Granit Xhaka.
Wilshere met with Wenger to seek assurances about his future at the club.
The Arsenal boss has no intention of letting Wilshere leave permanently but will consider a loan move before the transfer window shuts on Wednesday night.
Wilshere wants to get a run of games under his belt to win back his place with Arsenal and England.
The midfielder’s career has been disrupted by injury and he has only just returned to full fitness following an ankle problem which kept him out for most of last season.
But he now appears to be behind Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Mesut Ozil, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Swiss star Xhaka in the pecking order.
He was a controversial choice for Euro 2016 under former Three Lions boss Roy Hodgson.
But Sam Allardyce left him out of his first squad, to face Slovakia in a World Cup qualifier on Sunday, purely because he is no longer an Arsenal regular.
Injuries have limited Wilshere to just 159 Arsenal appearances since his debut in 2008.
His only two run-outs of the season have both been off the substitutes’ bench.
He came on for Cazorla with 17 minutes left of the goalless draw at Leicester on August 20 at the King Power.
Last Saturday he got the final 20 minutes after replacing Ozil during Arsenal’s 3-1 victory at Watford.
Wilshere was hoping to win a new contract at the club. But talks were shelved following another season spent on the sidelines through injury.
Although he made it to Euro 2016 he failed to make an impact before England were dumped out of the tournament after a disgraceful 2-1 defeat against Iceland.
He was hopeful of having a big year at Arsenal, but those chances have been restricted following the signing of Xhaka.
Meanwhile, Middlesbrough have signed Arsenal defender Calum Chambers on a season-long loan.
Chambers’ days at the Emirates look numbered after the arrival of Shkodran Mustafi from Valencia for £35million.
The former Southampton defender, 21, who cost Arsenal £16m two years ago, had been linked with Hull, Roma and Valencia.
But Boro boss Aitor Karanka is desperate for defensive cover after missing out on Hull’s Harry Maguire.
Boro’s Albert Adomah has turned down a move to Aston Villa.
The Ghana winger, 28, who also rejected a new deal at the Riverside, wants to stay on Teesside.
Premier League duo Burnley and Crystal Palace are also keen.