Jack Wilshere rejected new Arsenal contract in the summer and plans to leave the club at the end of the season

JACK WILSHERE rejected a new contract in the summer and plans to quit Arsenal at the end of the season.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger claimed this week that there had been no fresh talks with the 25-year-old midfielder.

Rex Features

AFP or licensors

Yet SunSport can reveal that Emirates chiefs wanted Wilshere to sign a new deal during the summer but were knocked back.

Wilshere is still upset Wenger pushed him out on loan last season to Bournemouth.

And the England star questions whether he has a future at the club under the Frenchman.

A source close to Wilshere said: “Arsenal didn’t want to loan him out again unless he signed a new contract — but he didn’t want to sign one.

“If Jack gets back into the Arsenal team on a regular basis and feels he is seriously part of the club’s plans, there is still a chance he might stay.

“However, as things stand, he is still of the view that he will be leaving at the end of the season.
“But he will be giving it his all for the club and will remain professional.”

Rex Features

AFP or licensors

Wilshere made his first Arsenal start since May 2016 in Wednesday’s 1-0 Carabao Cup win over Doncaster — when Theo Walcott hit the only goal.

Both men are likely to be back on the bench when the Gunners face West Brom in the Premier League tomorrow night.

But Walcott is determined to play finally for England at a World Cup in Russia next summer.

He was a shock choice by Sven-Goran Eriksson for the 2006 finals when he was just 16 — but did not play a single game in Germany.

Fabio Capello ignored Walcott for 2010 in South Africa and a knee ligament injury kept him out in Brazil in 2014.

Next summer could be the 28-year-old’s final chance.

Wenger said: “I must say since the start of the season Theo has been highly focused and determined. "He doesn’t talk a lot but he works very hard.

Rex Features

“He is focused on his job and he talks when he has something to tell you.

“Theo says, ‘boss, I want to play’. That is something I hear many times from everyone but that is what you want.

“This is especially a big season for him because of his age.

“He went to the World Cup in 2006 as a boy and then missed the following two World Cups.”

Aaron Ramsey is set to return to the Gunners midfield tomorrow after being rested for the midweek cup tie.

And Wenger reckons the Wales star, 26, has what it takes to become a future Arsenal captain.

Wenger added: “Why not? I believe he is more at the stage where you want him to focus more on the development of his career.

“Apart from injuries, you know your job in midfield at 25. It is as simple as that.”