Tag: 227

Wenger: Arsenal will not sell Wilshere

The midfielder recently revealed his future at the club had not been discussed, but his manager pointed to the loyalty shown during the player’s many injuries as proof he is wanted


Arsene Wenger has dismissed talk of Arsenal selling Jack Wilshere and hinted at a possible contract extension.

The midfielder recently made his return after yet another injury setback, which has restricted the 23-year-old to just 13 Premier League appearances this season.

In his absence, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey have shone in midfield has while Francis Coquelin established himself in the first team, with Wilshere recently admitting he is yet to discuss his future with his manager.

Wenger, though, insists he has never entertained the idea of selling Wilshere and is not about to start, pointing to the loyalty shown by the club during the England international’s many injury troubles.

“I made Jack Wilshere start at 17 years of age,” Wenger told reporters. “That means that you cannot show a bigger desire of wanting a player.

“We have always extended his contract and we have been very patient with all his injuries. At some stage I think he must feel wanted.

“We always stood by him through every difficult moment. Does that mean we want him to stay here for a longer period? Yes, as we would like to benefit from his talent now.”

West Ham hold preliminary Bielsa talks

The Hammers have lined up the former Athletic Bilbao boss as one of the primary candidates to replace Sam Allardyce, but the Argentinian could stay with Marseille


By Graeme Bailey

West Ham have held preliminary discussions with Marcelo Bielsa about becoming their new manager.

The east London club announced that Sam Allardyce would not be signing a new contract to remain at Upton Park last Sunday, just moments after they had completed their final match of the season against Newcastle.

Goal revealed last month that West Ham were already making plans for life after Allardyce and had identified Bielsa as a prime candidate to succeed the former Bolton boss, with ambitious A-list targets Carlo Ancelotti, Jurgen Klopp and Rafa Benitez out of reach.

Talks were understood to have been positive with the West Ham board enthused by the 59-year-old’s philosophy, although several members of the club’s hierarchy harbour concerns over the Marseille manager’s lack of English.

The former Argentina national team boss guided Marseille to fourth place in Ligue 1 last season and only narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification.

Sources in France expect Bielsa to commit to another year at the Stade Veledrome but the West Ham project is understood to appeal to a man who has spent the majority of his European management career in Spain.

Despite having fulfilled his remit of establishing the Hammers as a Premier League club following relegation to the Championship in 2011, Allardyce was deemed unsuitable to take the club forward as they prepare for life in their new home at the Olympic Stadium the season after next.

Ola John close to Swansea City move

According to the Netherlands international’s agent, Garry Monk’s side have fought off competition from other Premier League outfits to seal a deal for the Dutchman


Benfica winger Ola John is set to move to Swansea City, according to his brother and agent.

The 23-year-old starred as the Lisbon-based side won the Primeira Liga this season, making 35 appearances in all competitions.

John is now expected to sign a five-year deal with the Swans once the Welsh side agree a transfer fee with Benfica.

“It has always been a dream of Ola’s to play in the Premier League,” Collins John, the former Fulham striker and Ola’s representative, told Voetbal International.

“Some other clubs in the Premier League were interested, but Ola had the best feeling with Swansea City.

“Last season Swansea already tried to sign Ola, but the transfer failed at the very last moment. The club followed him after that in the hope of agreeing a contract with him. That moment is very close.”

Palacios released by Stoke City

The Honduras international failed to make an appearance in the 2014-15 season and joins Andy Wilkinson and Thomas Sorensen in departing the Potters


Wilson Palacios is one of three first-team players to be released by Stoke City, the club has announced.

The former Tottenham midifielder failed to make an appearance for the Potters during the 2014-15 campaign and has not been offered a new deal.

He joins Andy Wilkinson and Thomas Sorensen in leaving the Britannia Stadium at the end of their current contracts as the Potters look to improve on a ninth-placed finish in the Premier League.

Manager Mark Hughes has already moved to improve his squad with the permanent signing of Philipp Wollscheid and addition of goalkeeper Jakob Haugaard.