Parlez-vous Francais, Jack? Or is it money doing the talking with the weekend rumours linking Jack Wilshere to Paris Saint-Germain?
The biggest obstacle is said to be the hesitation of new PSG manager Thomas Tuchel, appointed earlier in the month, who apparently doesn’t share the enthusiasm of Henrique for the 26-year-old Wilshere.
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His long track-record of injuries at the Emirates is allegedly troubling the new PSG gaffer, and the fact Wilshere has missed out on selection for England’s World Cup squad means that the midfielder won’t have the chance to showcase his talents for Tuchel in Russia.
According to The Sun, Wilshere would prefer to remain at Arsenal “but is not prepared to take a pay cut from £110,00-a-week to a heavily incentivised £90,000-a-week deal”.
That was the reason for the meeting between his agent and Henrique, and the Sun differs from the Mirror in reporting Tuchel’s opinion of Wilshere. Apparently the German has yet to seriously consider how best to strengthen the PSG squad after yet another disappointing season in the Champions League, but he will sit down with Henrique next month “to discuss the possibility of Wilshere joining their ranks next term”.
He’d better hurry, however, because today’s Daily Mirror contradicts its Sunday stablemate and says that Wilshere may in fact sign a new deal, accepting the pay cut as the price to pay for remaining at the club he loves.
Meanwhile the Daily Star says that if, as expected, Mikel Arteta is appointed the new Arsenal manager he won’t be able to rely on the assistance of compatriot Santi Cazorla.
The Spanish midfielder - whose Arsenal career looks over after nearly two years out with an ankle injury - was linked last week with a coaching role at the Emirates next season.
But the Star says that the 33-year-old playmaker believes he can battle back from the injury, and for that reason he will return to Spain in the summer and sign a deal with former club Villarreal.