Arsenal 'Refusing to Budge' in Jack Wilshere Contract Talks Amid Latest Rumours

Jack Wilshere could be forced to leave Arsenal when his contract expires this summer, as the Gunners are "refusing to budge an inch" in negotiations over a new deal. 

According to John Cross in the Mirror, Wilshere is eager to remain at his boyhood club but is unhappy with the offer that is on the table—a pay-as-you-play contract that will see his pay cut from £110,000 per week to £90,000.

Cross added Everton, Juventus and AC Milan have already offered the England international a route out of the Emirates Stadium, while Liverpool and Manchester City have also been linked.

However, with new contracts chief Huss Fahmy not prepared to negotiate any further, Wilshere's Arsenal career could be nearing its end.

Per Mark Irwin of The Sun, the 26-year-old's one remaining hope of sealing a new deal with Arsenal is for manager Arsene Wenger to intervene in proceedings, with the Frenchman having so far left most of the work up to Fahmy. 

Wilshere is enjoying an injury-free 2017-18 season, and he has 17 Premier League appearances to show for it.

He has also been particularly impressive in the UEFA Europa League, playing in nine of Arsenal's 10 matches in the tournament, in which they have reached the quarter-finals. 

His performances have been good enough to earn him a recall to the England squad. 

Having joined Arsenal's youth setup as a nine-year-old, it seems clear Wilshere's preference would be to remain at the club. The Evening Standard's James Benge believes the Gunners' position is unnecessarily inflexible:

However, until this season, Wilshere has been a fitness liability and has been impossible for Wenger and Arsenal to rely upon to be regularly available, so their refusal to negotiate further is understandable.

Wilshere is talented, though, and still relatively young.

If Arsenal lose him for free this summer and he goes on to thrive elsewhere, the north London club could end up regretting driving such a hard bargain.