Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has ruled out a January move for Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.
Reports emerged at the start of the month suggesting the Palace boss wanted to reunite with Wilshere in the second half of the season to help boost the Eagles’ chance of Premier League survival.
Wilshere has failed to break into the Arsenal first-team since recovering from a broken leg in September and England manager Gareth Southgate has warned he needs to play to have any chance of making the 2018 World Cup.
Arsene Wenger has promised Wilshere a more prominent role in the team but the Arsenal midfielder will need to make a decision on his future in January if things fail to improve.
Hodgson wanted to build his England midfield around Wilshere during his time as Three Lions boss, but the 25-year-old was never fit enough for that plan to materialise and now he has quashed talk of a January reunion.
“We have never mentioned his name,” Hodgson told the London Evening Standard. “I work with [sporting director] Dougie Freedman and we talk about potential players and Jack Wilshere’s name has never been mentioned.
“I have no idea about where the name of Jack Wilshere has come from, so where did you get it from? I will tell you who - his agent.
“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.
“[Islam] Slimani is another one - his name has never been uttered. 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.”
Wilshere has only managed 25 minutes of playing time in the Premier League spread over two substitute appearances this season, although he has started three of Arsenal’s four Europa League group matches.
