Arsenal Striker Target Offered Contract Extension – Report
Roy Hodgson plays down concerns surrounding Jack Wilshere's injury
Barcelona striker David Villa will reportedly be offered a contract extension in the summer. The 31-year-old Spain international is believed to be a transfer target for Arsenal, who were strongly linked to the ex-Valencia man in the January transfer window. Villa's present contract runs out in 2014 and he is on a £7m per year deal with the club.
Villa, who has eight goals and four assists from 20 Spanish league games this season, was believed to be unhappy at the Nou Camp, following a prolonged absence from the first team. This led to speculation Spain's all-time leading goal scorer would favour a move to north London.
However, the striker has now started and scored in the Catalan giant's last two games, suggesting he may yet have a key role to play in Tito Vilanova's side. Overall, despite not being a first choice for the club, Villa has 14 goals from 31 games in all competitions this campaign.
Villa will also consider the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, which will likely be his last for the Spanish national team. And at his age, first team football is a must if he is to convince manager Vicente del Bosque to include him in the squad.
Apart from Arsenal, Premier League champions Manchester City have also been linked with the striker.
Roy Hodgson on Wilshere's Injury
Meanwhile, England manager Roy Hodgson believes Jack Wilshere's injury is not serious. The 21-year-old Arsenal midfielder is a key member of both Arsene Wenger and Hodgson's squads but has been ruled with an ankle problem. Wilshere lost over a year of his career after an extremely serious injury a couple of seasons ago.
"I've got no reason to believe that [Wilshere is injury prone] at the moment. Unfortunately, he has taken a knock and the X-rays show he needs to rest and not take any further knocks on the ankle. That's how we've understood it. But I don't think it's fair to say he is always injured. Since he's been back from the long injury, he has hardly missed a game," the England boss said.
England face San Marino and Montenegro, over the next week, as part of the qualifiers for the World Cup.
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