Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has reportedly set his sights on Jack Wilshere, and is set to sanction a January move for the Arsenal midfielder
According to a report by Daily Telegraph, Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson is set to make a move for Jack Wilshere in the winter transfer window to hand him a lifeline in his bid to make the England squad for next summer’s World Cup.
Wilshere’s career has been an unfortunate case of injury-riddled, gradual progress, having cumulatively missed a few years of actions due to various fitness problems. In fact, the player has only managed to rack up 168 appearances for Arsenal, nearly a decade after making his debut for the club.
Nevertheless, he continues to be regarded as one of the most creative midfielders in England, with last season’s loan spell at Bournemouth signalling a renaissance of sorts. However, upon his return to the Emirates, he is yet to cement his place in Arsene Wenger’s first-team squad.
Wilshere has, in fact, only managed to start five games this season, none of which have come in the Premier League. With the 2018 FIFA World Cup on the horizon, the player will need to rack up the minutes in order to remain in contention for a place in the England National Team.
Wilshere: “I want to be playing for my country. I am a proud Englishman. But its down to the manager [Southgate]. He didn’t select me. He said I need more football. Thats what I have got to do” #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/DHfNBjTXEW
— Gurjit (@GurjitAFC) November 9, 2017
Indeed, Gareth Southgate has asserted that Wilshere must feature week-in week-out in order to make his squad for next summer’s tournament, and stuck to his word when he ignored the Arsenal midfielder this week even after Jordan Henderson, Harry Winks and Dele Alli pulled out of international duty.
With time running out for the 25-year-old to clinch a place in the Southgate’s squad, a former England manager is set to hand him a lifeline. Roy Hodgson, under whose tutelage Wilshere was an automatic selection when fit, is keen for a reunion at Crystal Palace.
While it goes without saying that Wilshere would be a major upgrade on the midfielders currently at Hodgson’s disposal, the chance to play every single week might entice him to make the switch to Selhurst Park.
However, the prospect of joining a relegation battle, when compared to featuring in Europe with Arsenal, might not be appealing enough, and it remains to be seen if he is willing to switch allegiances in the middle of the season.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are moving quickly to tie Wilshere down to a new long-term contract, with his current deal set to run out next summer.
Widespread reports have suggested that the England international is keen on remaining at the Emirates, but the possibility of missing the flight to Russia might change his mind. It will now be interesting to see if Crystal Palace succeed in signing Wilshere or if he chooses to continue with Arsenal.
