Aston Villa want Wilshere, Chelsea chase Oxlade-Chamberlain

Jack Wilshere has been offered the chance to restart his stalled career, reports The Sun, but the unwanted Arsenal midfielder has reservations about his potential rescuers - Aston Villa.

On the one hand the move north would give him valuable game-time but playing in the Championship won't do much for his chances of making England's World Cup squad next year.

The Sun reports that Villa gaffer Steve Bruce is making overtures to the 25-year-old midfielder, reminding Wilshere that John Terry has recently moved to Villa Park. The problem is the former Chelsea defender is in the twilight of his career while Wilshere still wants to play at the top level for several seasons to come.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

According to the Daily Mirror, Arsene Wenger has "told the midfielder he can leave if the right offer comes along", and the paper says the Gunners see that as a permanent deal worth something in the region of £9m.

So far this season Wilshere has been reduced to playing for the Arsenal’s Under-23s and there seems little prospect of his making regular appearances for the senior side other than Thursday night outings in the Europa League.

Nonetheless the Mirror claims that Wilshere is likely to "stay and fight for his place", especially as Premier League clubs Newcastle United and Swansea City have reportedly expressed an interest in signing him before the end of the month.

And another Gunner who might soon be a goner is Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. If The Sun is to be believed Arsenal "may be forced to sell" the Ox in order to trim their towering wage bill, and that's great news for Chelsea. It's reported in the more excitable elements of the British press that the Gunners knocked back a £25m offer for Oxlade-Chamberlain last week. Chelsea haven't given up the chase, however, and although they acknowledge they face competition from Liverpool they will increase their offer this week.