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The BBC’s Arsenal Man, David Ornstein, is reporting that while Jack Wilshere has agreed terms with AS Roma, the deal is complicated by Arsenal’s anger at how Roma conducted talks for Kostas Manolas.
Roma/Arsenal deal for Wilshere not easy. #AFC angry at Roma conduct in Manolas talks this summer. Still hope for #CPFC & #AFCB #DeadlineDay
— David Ornstein (@bbcsport_david) August 31, 2016
Arsenal turned to Kostas Manolas when talks with Valencia for Shkodran Mustafi became far more complicated than anticipated. Apparently, Roma angered Arsenal, but the loan deal should still be completed. Arsenal would prefer Wilshere to not play in the Premier League, because of its physicality, and Roma would be a good place to land, with familiarity provided by Wojciech Szczesny and (shudders) Thomas Vermaelen, European football, and a more tactically driven manager in Luciano Spalleti.
If Arsenal are angry, it is nothing more money cannot smooth over, and one suspects money may be at the heart of the hold-up here. Perhaps Roma do not want to pay all of Wilshere’s £100k/week wage (€118k/week) or they don’t want to pay a loan fee; either way, Arsenal’s anger is likely driven by finances.