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Jack Wilshere reveals he was happy to take PAY CUT before announcing Arsenal exit
JACK WILSHERE has revealed he was prepared to take a pay cut to stay at Arsenal.
Wilshere has confirmed he will be leaving Arsenal in the summer after months of speculation over his future.
The midfielder was supposedly offered a new deal worth £90,000-a-week which represented a drop in wages, while he was angling for a contract in the region of £130,000 a week.
A handful of Premier League outfits have been chasing the 26-year-old - who is out of contract this summer - including West Ham, Everton and Wolves.
Reports surfaced last weekend suggesting the Hammers are confident of striking a deal.
My intention throughout these discussions has always been to remain an Arsenal player
It had been said the east London outfit’s new boss Manuel Pellegrini believes he can build a team around the player who was left out of England’s World Cup squad.
And in a statement posted on Instagram, Wilshere was prepared to accept a pay cut, but the lack of assurances over his future caused him to change his mind.
“My intention throughout these discussions has always been to remain an Arsenal player,” he wrote.
“I have been on the books at Arsenal for 17 years and have always felt part of the fabric of the club.
“Such was my desire to stay that I had in fact recently agreed to sign a financially reduced contract in order to commit my future to the club.
“However, following my meeting with the new manager I was made aware that although the reduced contract offer remained, it was made clear to me that my playing time would be significantly reduced should I decide to stay.”