Jack Wilshere is reportedly considering leaving Arsenal in January if it will give him a better chance of going to the World Cup with England in the summer.

That’s according to the Daily Mail, who write that Wilshere is desperate to stay with the Gunners and earn a new contract under Arsène Wenger, but is also worried that leaving might be the only way to get him an England call up for the 2018 World Cup next summer.

His contract ends in May, so he can sign a pre-contract agreement with a foreign club in January. But that wouldn’t help him or the club, in my opinion, so hopefully that possibility is off the table.

On the other hand, if another side made a bid for Wilshere in the winter window, Arsenal could consider cashing in. If the 25-year-old isn’t getting game time by January then he might want to leave as well.

Hopefully not, as Wilshere is finally starting to play well and stay fit, at least so far. Another option mentioned by the Mail is that Jack could sign a new deal and go out on loan for the remainder of the season.

That would make sense in the short-term for his England prospects, but I can’t really see how it would help Arsenal. Last season, when Wilshere went out to Bournemouth, Arsene Wenger ended up with a central midfield problems and the Gunners struggled as a result.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and the inexperienced Ainsley Maitland-Niles had to fill in. It would be foolish to allow the same thing to happen again.