FORMER Arsenal midfielder David Hillier has declared Jack Wilshere will NOT be returning to the club on a permanent basis.
Ex-Gunners star Wilshere, 29, has been offered the chance by Mikel Arteta to return to London Colney to train as he searches for a new club following his release by Championship side Bournemouth.
Wilshere stated he will hold talks with Arsenal about taking up the manager’s offer.
It led to speculation that he could be offered a deal by the North London club, but this has been ruled out by Gunners icon Hillier.
Speaking on the Highbury Squad Podcast, the 51-year-old title winner said: “I have got inside information on this.
“I am a lucky man, so I am actually playing golf on Friday with a guy who does all his security systems at his house and he is very friendly with him.
“He was telling me about him. They are good friends, anyway, from back in the day.
“He said to me that ‘he is just training at the club to try to get another club’.
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“There’s no offer of pay-as-play. He hasn’t even spoken to anyone at the club.
“He is happy to take a Championship club and just get back into football. He just wants to play. He wants to get fit.
“And he certainly doesn’t want to be someone who goes back to the club and just fizzles out at Arsenal. I know that, for sure. That was said in the conversation.
“He doesn’t want to be someone who wants to be a mentor. He still has got playing to do. He wants Arsenal to miss him. Nothing in it.”
Wilshere left Arsenal in 2018 to join West Ham after 197 appearances in all competitions.
Hillier was at Highbury from 1984 to 1996 before leaving for Portsmouth.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
