Arsenal ace Jack Wilshere wanted by French giants Marseille in shock deal with future still in balance
England star still not certain his long-term future is with the Gunners despite wanting to stay with the need to play regular football his biggest concern
MARSEILLE have emerged as shock contenders in the race to sign Jack Wilshere.
The Arsenal midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and his future is in doubt with no new contract on the table.
Wilshere's track record of injuries have forced boss Arsene Wenger to hold back on making a decision on whether he is able to offer him new deal.
The Gunners boss has been open in his belief the quality is there but he says Wilshere still needs to prove his body can stand the demands of top flight football.
And the 25-year-old admitted this week that although he wants to remain an Arsenal player, he has reservations himself because he needs to be playing regular first team football.
The next few weeks will go a long way to deciding Wilshere's next move, and there is still the potential he could leave the club in the January transfer window.
That has seen a host of clubs take an interest in his situation, with no shortage of sides willing to take the England star.
And French club Marseille are the latest to have registered an interest in signing the midfielder should he decide the time is right to leave.
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They would be open to taking him on loan until the end of the season with the view to making the deal permanent next summer.
But whether the chance to play in the south of France is one that excites Wilshere is open to question, with plenty of other opportunities available to him.
Napoli would love to take him to Serie A if he decides a move abroad is the right thing at this time in his career.
West Ham, the club he supported as a boy, have made no secret of the fact they would love him at the London Stadium and even attempted to secure a deal last summer.
That interest remains despite David Moyes replacing Slaven Bilic in charge, and the club believe they are in a good position to clinch a deal should he decide to leave the Emirates.
Newcastle boss Rafa Benitez is another who has registered an interest, although their preference for a loan deal while the club's takeover talks continue could damage their chances.
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Wilshere is expected to start against Liverpool tonight, his third successive start in the Premier League.
And he said earlier this week: "I definitely want to be here. I want to help Arsenal get to where they should be.
"We just have to sort things out and I'm sure that will happen in the next couple of weeks and it will be sorted."