Arsene Wenger Has Put His 'Weight' into New Jack Wilshere Contract Amid Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is doing his part to help Jack Wilshere stay at the club. 

He confirmed the Gunners have made the midfielder an offer in an interview with beIN Sports:

"I can only reassure him that I want him to stay and we make him a proposal, and after that, we also have to accept that Jack is at an age where he will have offers from somewhere else," Wenger said (h/t John Cross of the Mirror). "Personally, I have put my weight in for him to stay. I want him to stay, and I think he's an Arsenal man."

The Frenchman added:

"[AC Milan boss Gennaro] Gattuso said that he's got the technique of a Spanish player and the character of an English player and I think that's well judged and that's why you want him to stay.

"As well Jack has gone through situations where he's been gone through long term injuries and you hope in the next three or four years he will be injury free and you'll see the real Jack Wilshere.

"He went to the European Championship and, basically, he didn't play. He came on a few times but Jack Wilshere in full power, full fitness is a regular player in the England national team."

Wenger's comments are in marked contrast to what he said to Wilshere last summer, though, per The Times' Henry Winter:

Wilshere was in the process of recovering from a broken leg, which he suffered while on loan with Bournemouth in April last year, but he has made a successful return to the Arsenal team this term.

After initially being restricted to appearances in the UEFA Europa League and the Carabao Cup, he has once again established himself as an important first-team player and made 31 senior appearances in all competitions this season, grabbing two goals and as many assists.

He has evidently shown enough for the Gunners to want him to stay put, though with his injury record in mind, he will have to take a pay cut to do so.

Wilshere has been handed a "take-it-or-leave-it" deal of £90,000 per week in basic wages—down £20,000 on his current earnings—with the potential of appearance-based add-ons and other incentives, per Cross.

Cross believes Arsenal should keep the England international:

Wilshere is an excellent player when fit, one who would be missed at the Emirates Stadium were he to leave and one who could contribute much to suitors Everton, AC Milan or Juventus. Manchester City and Liverpool are also said to be monitoring his situation.

Given the 26-year-old's injury record, though, it's understandable the Gunners are eager to structure their offer in the way they have.

Losing him to a rival for nothing isn't ideal, though, and Wilshere may need more than Wenger's vocal support before he's willing to sign a new contract.