Jack Wilshere and Ross Barkley could leave Arsenal and Everton respectively in 2018.
Pundit Charlie Nicholas has told Sky Sports’ The Debate that he wouldn’t want to see Ross Barkley and Jack Wilshere swap clubs in 2018.
Everton midfielder Barkley may be one of the key stories of the January transfer window, given that his contract at Goodison Park expires at the end of the season.
The 23-year-old, who has hit 27 goals in 179 games for Everton, hasn’t played at all this season due to injury, and could be sold in a cut-price deal when the transfer window opens next month.
Despite his lack of impact this season, Barkley is bound to attract interest, though just where he will go is unclear, given the lack of clear perfect fits in the Premier League for the No. 10.
Another English midfielder whose future is up in the air is Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere, given that his contract will also come to an end next summer.
Wilshere, 25, has been on been on the books with Arsenal since 2001, but injuries has diminished his impact, and he is essentially playing for a new contract this season.
Jack Wilshere is challenged by Ross Barkley
Many are urging Wilshere to move on in search of first-team football elsewhere, and one fan asked Sky Sports’ The Debate whether a Barkley for Wilshere swap deal would suit both Arsenal and Everton.
However, pundit Charlie Nicholas suggested that such a move doesn’t work for him, and feels that Arsenal should prioritise football for Alex Iwobi and Reiss Nelson rather than bringing in somebody like Barkley.
“It wouldn’t be for me,” said Nicholas. “I wouldn’t be in a rush to bring Barkley to Arsenal, I think they’ve already got plenty of those types of players. Iwobi’s there, he never gets a game, there’s a lot of other young kids who want to come in and play, Nelson’s a big more attractive to me in a more advanced situation. For me, no, that doesn’t work,” he added.
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