Jack Wilshere offered ‘long-term’ Arsenal contact with Arsene Wenger expecting a decision before the World Cup

Arsene Wenger has confirmed Jack Wilshere has been offered a “long-term” contract to stay at Arsenal and he expects the situation to be resolved before the World Cup.

The 26-year-old has so far refused to commit his future to the Gunners after being told he must take a pay cut to remain at the club.

Standard Sport understands Wilshere has been offered a basic £80,000-a-week with add-ons based on the number of appearances he makes during the course of a season.

Wilshere believes he has proven his fitness after featuring 35 times – only Granit Xhaka, Hector Bellerin and Petr Cech have played more often – and so the two parties are currently locked in a stalemate.

Wilshere is hopeful of being selected for Gareth Southgate’s 23-man squad for Russia with England provisionally due to travel to their training base in Repino on June 12.

And Wenger said: “I cannot give you any news because I don’t really know what is in his mind. I can just update you by saying that until now he has not signed.

“He has an offer and we want him to stay. He has an offer that is on a long-term contract basically, and I hope that at some stage he will sign it.

He has the freedom to make that decision, he knows I want him to stay and overall I hope that at some stage... he as well is focused on winning the next game, and certainly he will make his decision a bit later.

“I think he will make his decision before the end of the season. he will not want to go to the World Cup and not have settled his situation because that would not be reasonable as well I think.”