Media Watch: City in £40m swoop for top Arsenal youngster

Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere is one of England’s brightest and finest at just 19-years-old. Given his prominence on the pitch this season, both for the Gunners and the Three Lions, it is little surprise that he’s been the centre of a number of dodgy news articles. Some stories, however, are so ludicrous that they scarcely deserve mention. The discerning football fan should be able to smell the scent of journalistic desperation from a mile off and give the article the consideration and time it deserves – none.

I’m talking in these terms because the News of the World ran with a headline on Saturday that read: “City in £40m swoop for top Gunner Wilshere”. Rather than let it lie, however, I’d rather pick this story apart. Jack Wilshere will be an Arsenal player for the foreseeable future – that’s almost beyond question.

The NotW suggests that he may be tempted to a move to Manchester City who would be able to double his weekly salary (He’s currently getting £55,000 a week at Arsenal) and offer a selection of extra incentives. Whilst there’s no doubting City’s resources and ability to offer Wilshere such rewards, the story does not take into account that City already have a strong midfield and that young Jack, at this stage in his career is likely to be motivated by much more than money.

There are no quotes included in the story and no hard evidence presented at any stage. It’s almost as though the story were created at a whim. Jack Wilshere is a player Arsenal fans care deeply enough and City are one of the only clubs in the world with the finances available to tease him away from North London. If you throw in the arbitrary figure of £40m when it comes to the player’s worth, you have a viable story – even if it’s lacking in verisimilitude.

And with their reputation going down the toilet, the NotW desperately need to be breaking big stories. That fails to excuse the shoddy journalism here, however.

City have no need of additions in their already packed midfield. The time where Manchester City make purchases just for the sake of it, or just to show their ambition is gone. This summer City will only make purchases in areas of their squad that need bolstering – or to provide replacements for players who leave in the summer.

As for Wilshere, we know he loves Arsenal. We know he has a freshly signed five-year contract with the club. He’s also got a decent head on his shoulders, despite the way he has been portrayed at times in the media. He’s currently a first-choice player at one of the best teams in the world. Would he be willing to join a club where he may not be first choice and who aren’t competing for trophies just yet – merely for a pay rise?

Would he be willing to leave the services of Arsene Wenger, the best developer of footballing youth in the world to become just another face in City’s crowded squad? I highly doubt it. Not that the NotW article takes any of this into consideration. In return I hope everybody who reads the story gives it all the respect it deserves.

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