Crystal Palace manager responds to speculation linking him with Arsenal midfielder

Crystal Palace manager Roy Hodgson has dismissed any interest in Jack Wilshere – but says that does not mean he is not an admirer of the Arsenal midfielder.

Transfer speculation has connected the Eagles with the England international, who spent last season on loan at Bournemouth.

Hodgson said: “Who has linked him? That’s what you need to find out because it didn’t come from us.

“We have never mentioned his name.

“Jack Wilshere – you are telling me he has been linked with the club, my question is by who?

“I work with Dougie Freedman and we talk about potential players and Jack Wilshere’s name has never been mentioned in this room.

“Now you are telling me we have been linked with him, but by who?

“I will tell you who, his agent, because that’s where newspapers get their stories from.

“But we haven’t discussed Jack Wilshere. I like him and I think he is a very good player. There may come a time at Crystal Palace where Jack Wilshere would be just the player we are looking for, but I can’t tell you that is the case at the moment, and he might not be available etc, etc.

“So there’s no point in talking about these things, but one day you might come in here with a name and say ‘what about this fella’, and that might to some extent have emanated from here, but Jack’s name has definitely not.

“But good luck to Jack, I think he is an outstanding player and I have got nothing but respect for him, I like him very much, but why his name should be being talked about for Crystal Palace, I don’t know.”