Arsenal: Miserly Sampdoria Jack Wilshere bid utterly nonsensical

Sampdoria have reportedly lodged a £6 million bid for Jack Wilshere. It would be utterly nonsensical for Arsenal to accept the miserly and derogatory offer given the time, energy and investment that they have made in his career so far.

Selling players for a high price has never been a particular strength of Arsenal. Unlike many of their rivals, most notably Chelsea, the Gunners fail to sell players at the peak of their value, often settling for lesser prices as a result of poor business acumen, contract mismanagement or poor player evaluation.

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It is a huge weakness that significantly stifles the club’s ability to invest heavily in potential replacements and improvements. Chelsea, for example, have been able to sell players like Romelu Lukaku, Oscar, Andre Schurrle and David Luiz for a high price, to then reinvest that money, bringing in the likes of Diego Costa, Cesc Fabregas and N’Golo Kante, players on which their recent success has been built upon.

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Entering the summer transfer window, Arsene Wenger described his squad as ‘heavy’, implying that he was wanting to sell some of the peripheral figures within the squad. It is key that he is able the players that he has in mind for the highest possible price.

So, imagine the idiocy of Sampdoria. The Italians, in utter cheek and naivety, have lodged a £6 million offer for the services of one Jack Wilshere. Have they thought about what they are doing? Wilshere may have been sent out on loan last season, with Wenger unable to offer him the game time that he needs to develop at the Emirates. But that does not make him worthless.

Not only is his natural talent worth more than the miserly £6 million offered, but given the investment that Wenger has made in Wilshere, in time, effort, energy, coaching, wages, patience and support, it is ridiculous to think that he would sacrifice all that work for such a small fee.

At 25 years of age, Wilshere is now entering the prime of his career. The time to be a prospect has ended. He must now be a contributor. But like Robin van Persie during his time at Arsenal, Wilshere’s tenure has been scuppered by injuries. The Dutchman, at 27, would not have been considered an elite striker.

The Dutchman, at 27, would not have been considered an elite striker. Fast forward 18 months, and he was the talk of the town, the subject of a major offer from Manchester United and considered one of the most prolific strikers in the world. Patience is a virtue and Wenger is not going to sacrifice all the time that he has been waiting for Wilshere to bloom for £6 million.

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The offer is utterly nonsensical, almost offensive to Wilshere’s talents, and should be emphatically rejected.