Juventus are interested in signing Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.
Standard Sport understands the Serie A club have sounded out English-based agents to explore through informal channels whether the Gunners would be willing to sell the 22-year-old.
No formal enquiry or offer has yet been made after the suggestion was rejected by manager Arsene Wenger, who earlier this week challenged the midfielder to become a “consistent presence” in the team this season.
It is believed that Wilshere is also happy to remain at Arsenal assuming he holds down a regular starting berth and Juventus are therefore waiting for more encouragement from the Gunners or the player before making an opening bid.
However, their interest remains genuine and they have instructed intermediaries to keep close tabs on Wilshere’s situation.
Wenger is keen to keep Wilshere but his injury history has caused consternation at the club. He has suffered with ankle problems for years, having told this newspaper in October 2011 that he first sustained a hairline fracture as a 16-year-old in a youth team game.
That original condition was left untreated as it occurred at the end of that particular season and Wilshere believed at the time it would heal naturally during the summer hiatus. But when receiving a kick on the same ankle in England’s Euro 2012 qualifier against Switzerland in June 2011, the original injury was exacerbated and it triggered a difficult two-year spell in which he underwent operations and lengthy rehabilitation.
It is understood that Wilshere still undergoes regular scans on his ankles and while the club are confident he can play a fully active part, a continuation of his chequered availability this season could potentially prompt a softening of their opposition to potential suitors, especially given Wenger’s anger over the player being caught smoking in public for the second time in nine months while on holiday in Las Vegas in July.
Source: Evening Standard