Any Celtic link to Jack Wilshere is far, far wide of the mark

By Euan Davidson

May 26, 2021

It’s pretty straight-forward, sometimes: managers like certain players, and for clubs like Celtic, you can add two and two together.

That seems to have been the case over recent days, with the Bhoys being linked to Jack Wilshere. Wilshere’s is a sad story. Blessed with incredible talent, the guy was a star for Arsenal but he just couldn’t stay fit. Eddie Howe, who’s likely to be named as Celtic boss soon enough, took a gamble on the midfielder in 16-17, and he rejoined the Cherries in January of this year, making 14 league appearances [Transfermarkt].

Unfortunately, it’s not been enough to earn Wilshere a longer deal on the south coast. With Celtic rebuilding, naturally, some have pointed to the club’s need for players, and Wilshere’s availability. Given this website’s favour for a bargain talent, you might think we’d be all over it.

Certainly, former Ireland goalkeeper Paddy Kenny likes the idea. He told Football Insider:

“But listen, players like that aren’t out of contract often. If Eddie Howe does get the job, I think this is something they could definitely look at. It would be a great deal.”

Wilshere was linked to Rangers not too long ago [Glasgow Times], but a Celtic link makes more sense. Given his history with Eddie Howe, of course.

Undoubtedly talented / (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

An expensive and risky outlay for Celtic

Being honest, this would be a huge risk, and not in keeping with the transfer identity of a progressive club. That sounds horrible, especially about a player with such immense talent, when he’s able to stay fit.

It’s just the staying fit part. Wilshere hasn’t completed more than 20 league matches since 17-18 [Transfermarkt]. While he played with relative regularity for Bournemouth in the latter half of this season, he spent time with the physios at West Ham with a calf injury in the first portion of 20-21.

At 29, Wilshere could still feasibly play top-level football. Everyone knows just how good he can be, but it’s a massive gamble for a club like Celtic to take. Of course, the “rumour” in and of itself is just one man’s opinion, essentially, but it’s something you can see growing arms and legs.

Well, as sad as it is to say, it’s a no from us. Especially for a position that might be our only overstocked area, with the likes of Tom Rogic, Ryan Christie and David Turnbull to dislodge. Beyond that, players like Luca Connell, Ewan Henderson and Barry Coffey wait in the wings.

It’ll happen for him somewhere, but not at Paradise.

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