Jack Wilshere has revealed how Arsene Wenger told him he probably did not have a future at Arsenal and could leave – and admitted that he feared he had little chance of making England’s World Cup squad.

During a frank conversation, Wenger said Wilshere should consider looking for another club because he was not planning to offer the midfielder a new contract. And even informed Wilshere while he was sitting on an exercise bike.

The discussion took place during pre-season training last summer. “It was an honest conversation,” Wilshere explained. “We have known each other long enough where we can have that relationship where we are honest with each other. It was boiling up for a while because everybody knew I had a year left on my deal and I had been out on loan, got injured, and wasn’t really in his plans.

“He said, ‘I am going to be honest with you and at the moment we are not going to be offering you a contract, so if you can get a contract somewhere else, you can go’. Obviously I was not happy with that, but at the same time I was happy he was being honest.

“He gave me the opportunity with three or four weeks left in the transfer window, but I did not find anything that I wanted and at the same time I was not really fit, so I decided that I wanted to stay and build up my fitness. He also said at the same time that if I did stay I had an opportunity to fight for my place, and if I performed well in the Carabao Cup and Europa League, I had a chance.”