Palace boss Hodgson opens up on links to Jack Wilshere

Roy Hodgson has rubbished reports linking Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere with a move to Crystal Palace. 

Wilshere has found his opportunities limited at Arsenal this season after spending last season out on loan at Bournemouth.

Hodgson worked with Wilshere whilst he was in charge of England, prompting newspapers to suggest he is keen to link-up with the 25-year-old again. However, he has dismissed that as agent-talk.

“It didn’t come from us – we have never mentioned his name,” Hodgson told the Croydon Advertiser.

“I work with [Director of Football] Dougie Freedman and we talk about potential players and Jack Wilshere’s name has never been mentioned.

“Now you are telling me we have been linked with him, but by who?

“I will tell you who, his agent, because that’s where newspapers get their stories from.

“We haven’t discussed Jack Wilshere. I like him and I think he is a very good player. There may come a time at Crystal Palace where Jack Wilshere would be just the player we are looking for, but I can’t tell you that is the case at the moment, and he might not be available etc, etc.

“So there’s no point in talking about these things, but one day you might come with a name and say ‘what about this fella’, and that might to some extent have emanated from here, but Jack’s name has definitely not.

“But good luck to Jack, I think he is an outstanding player and I have got nothing but respect for him, I like him very much, but why his name should be being talked about for Crystal Palace, I don’t know.”

 

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