Fan favourite Jack Wilshere was close to leaving Arsenal during the transfer window, its been revealed.

Trabzonspor from Turkey had enquired about taking Wilshere on loan over the summer but officials from the club confirmed the deal didn’t go through because Arsenal were after too much money for the midfielder.

Wilshere spent a successful time on loan at Bournemouth before breaking his leg and returning to Arsenal towards the end of last season but is now in contention for our Europa League tie against Cologne this Thursday night having recovered quickly from the injury. The Sun even claim that the player could start the game alongside Alexis Sanchez.

The Trabzonspor manager Muharrem Usta told Turkish-Football:

“I held direct talks with Jack Wilshere. We wanted him on loan and were close to a deal but the move stalled at the last moment…”

It’s also claimed that a host of English clubs, such as Wilshere’s boyhood club West Ham along Swansea, Newcastle were interested in signing the unsettled Wilshere as well as other European sides from Turkey and Italy.

Wilshere could feature in this week’s game, given the injury to Francis Coquelin, but I feel that the game could just have come around too soon for his first game in an Arsenal shirt for over a year.

Watch this space – just need to get the Mickey Mouse Champions League games out of the way this week before the real European Elite tournament begins properly on Thursday night.

COYG.