It had been reported that Arsenal were getting to set to offer Jack Wilshere a new contract.

With the emergence of Manchester City as a potential suitor for the player it started to make a bit more sense that they would look to tie Jack down to a longer deal (current one expires 2018 so he’s likely to get one next season anyway).

Now it’s being reported that the club don’t feel they need to up his wages to ward of City, feeling confident that both the club and player can fight off any of their slimy advances for yet another Gunner.

If you believe the reports in the press, City are getting ready to slap down £150k per week in front of Jack as they begin their urgent recruitment of English players however a figure like that for a midfilder who has still not delievered on his potential would cause all sorts of problems with the wage structure at Arsenal.

It’s also an indication of the strong position Arsenal now find themselves in that they no longer need to sell but are also not afraid of losing players and therefore don’t see City as the threat they once were.

While highly unlikely that Jack would agitate for a move, especially not with Liam Brady saying he’s ‘Arsenal through-and-through’, it would be far from the end of the world If he did, unlike the recent past when a number of stars were transfixed by City’s billions.

Wilshere is currently on £90k per week and £150k would make him the club’s highest earner, ahead of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil who both get £140k.

With Theo’s negotiations yet to really get going, he would no doubt demand parity (he probably already is with Mesut and Alexis) and you start to see the ripple effect of offering wages to simply secure a player’s future.