Arsene Wenger has confirmed he will offer Jack Wilshere a new Arsenal contract, and says he’s open to strengthening the squad in the January transfer window.
Wilshere has impressed in recent Premier League starts and has apparently done enough to convince Wenger to hand him a new deal, with his current contract expiring in the summer.
Wenger said he will hold talks with Wilshere shortly, and expects the midfielder to sign an extension as long as they can agree financial terms.
“We will sit down with him,” Wenger told a news conference on Wednesday ahead of Thursday’s visit to Crystal Palace. “I believe if he can meet a point of agreement financially, he will want to stay.”
Wilshere has started three straight league matches in the absence of Aaron Ramsey, having previously been used mainly in cup games as he regained full fitness following another lengthy injury layoff. The midfielder spent last season on loan at Bournemouth after missing nearly the entire previous campaign with a leg fracture.
He had been linked with a possible move away from his boyhood club in January had Wenger decided not to extend his deal.
But even if the midfielder stays, Wenger expects a busy transfer window for the Gunners. Defender Mathieu Debuchy has said he wants to leave, while striker Olivier Giroud or Theo Walcott could possibly push for moves in order to get more playing time. Meanwhile, there is still uncertainty surrounding Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, as the star duo have so far refused to sign new deals.
“I will be busy, yes, because first of all you have clubs who call you to get players on loan or to buy your players,” Wenger said. “I am open-minded on any possibility to strengthen our team.”
However, he insisted he has not received any offers for Sanchez, with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain both reportedly interested.
“No, honestly, no. We have not been approached and I stick to what I said before,” he said, referring to his stance that both Sanchez and Ozil will stay at the club until their contracts expire in the summer.
Mattias is ESPN FC’s Arsenal correspondent. Follow him on Twitter: @MattiasKaren.