‘LaLiga would be a nice change and I’m NOT too young for MLS’: Jack Wilshere ready for a new adventure abroad after West Ham tore up his £100,000-a-week deal earlier this month
- Jack Wilshere has been undergoing personal training programme to stay fit
- He is in touch with his agent every two days and considering various offers
- England international ‘had to get out’ of West Ham and mutually terminated deal
- At 28, Wilshere’s next move is crucial and he thinks LaLiga may suit his style
Jack Wilshere realises his next career move may well be make or break and is carefully assessing his options with LaLiga and MLS on his radar.
The former England golden boy, who made his international debut at 18, struggled with injuries at West Ham having moved from Arsenal in 2018 and made a clean break on deadline day.
The 28-year-old mutually agreed to terminate his £100,000-a-week deal with David Moyes’ side as he was not part of the Scot’s plans.
Jack Wilshere was not in David Moyes’ plans and says he ‘had to get out’ of West Ham
Wilshere suffered numerous injuries in his two years with the Hammers after leaving Arsenal
Wilshere and his agent are carefully poring over offers, understanding that the right move could reignite his flagging career.
On his West Ham exit, he told Sky Sports News: ‘I was probably getting to that point, if I had stayed another year, where it would have been really tough mentally to come back from.
‘I never had a fall out with him (Moyes). I’ve got a lot of friends at West Ham and it was nothing personal against them. I still speak to a lot of the players, but I just had to get out. I couldn’t spend another year not playing, especially at my age.’
And now Wilshere is keeping in shape with a personal trainer helping him maintain a condition so he can be ready when the right opportunity comes knocking.
But the former Arsenal starlet is in no great rush.
He continued: ‘I’ve been speaking to my agent every couple of days. ‘There’s been a few things that have come up and we’re still talking about it, but I’m not going to put a time on it because I want to make sure it’s right.
Having burst onto the scene as an exciting young talent, Wilshere’s next move at 28 is crucial
Given his style of play and injury record, Wilshere is attracted to a move abroad in one of Europe’s top leagues but admits the lure of the MLS is also an interesting one.
‘La Liga, Italy or Germany would be a nice change for me’, he added. ‘Not many English players have done it.
‘I always watch La Liga, it was always something I thought about. I like the league, I think it’s more technical than the English game. I think it’s somewhere I could really show what I can do.
‘I don’t think I’m too young for the MLS. It’s on Sky Sports, I think there’s been a big improvement in that league. If the right opportunity came up I’d be open to it.’
Wilshere suffered a nasty ankle injury that required surgery and also a long-term groin problem at the Hammers.
The diminutive midfielder believes his technical prowess would suit play in LaLiga
He was also plagued by injury problems at Arsenal, where he first burst onto the scene as a technically gifted creative midfield player.
Having consistent game time and feeling a key part of a project is crucial for Wilshere now as he is desperate to show he still has what it takes at the top level.
‘I just want to play games – I want to get back to playing 25-30 games a season, when you can really get your confidence back and a smile on your face,’ he continuned.
‘Just playing football, what I used to do when I was a little bit younger. I still feel like I can do it and I want to prove everyone wrong.’
He even believes an England recall would not be beyond the realms of possibility and says he can ‘put himself in Gareth Southgate’s head’ by recapturing his best form.
Wilshere only played 19 times for West Ham after joining in 2018 and wants consistency again
The creative midfielder has sympathy for Mesut Ozil, who has been exiled at Arsenal
Having found himself in a similar position before, Wilshere also commented on Mesut Ozil’s situation at Arsenal after the German found himself exiled by Mikel Arteta and out of the club’s Premier League or Europa League squads.
He added: ‘He’s one of the best players I’ve played with. All I can do is comment on him as a footballer and I know what he can give, so it does make it difficult to understand.
‘But I’m not in the club, I don’t know what’s happened. I’m sure a lot of teams in England and Europe – Mesut will be the first name on the team sheet.’
Wilshere offers a similar style to Ozil and at his best was a creative force from midfield.
It remains to be seen where he ends up but no doubt plenty of clubs will have their ears pricked at his openness to a move abroad in the coming weeks.
