Arsenal icon Jack Wilshere has revealed he has held conversations with West Ham captain Declan Rice about his future and believes a move to the Emirates Stadium would be 'perfect'. The Gunners are set to prioritise a move for the England international in the summer transfer window as they look to bolster their midfield options, football.london understands.
Rice is expected to leave West Ham in the summer after rejecting approaches to sign a new deal at the London Stadium. The Hammers star will have just 12 months left on his current contract at the end of the season, with Chelsea and Manchester United among the clubs to have long-standing interest in the 24-year-old, who came through the Blues’ academy.
West Ham are expected to hold out for a huge fee to let their star midfielder leave the club after previously valuing Rice at £150million. The Hammers are thought to have the option to extend Rice's current deal by a further year, whilst the player himself has outlined his desire to play for a team in the Champions League and challenges for trophies consistently.
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Wilshere spent two-and-a-half years with West Ham and played alongside Rice after joining in 2018, and the Arsenal Under-18's head coach believes his former team-mate should make the move to north London and continue his development under Mikel Arteta. Wilshere told the PA news agency, via Evening Standard: “He’s a midfielder who can do anything.
“Anyone who supports any club would want Dec to join. If I’m talking from a selfish point of view, in north London, I think he would be very good under Mikel’s watch.
“Mikel would develop him, bring him on even more and he would be massive for the team as well. I have had conversations with Dec and told him what he is doing in unbelievable, he is captain of a big Premier League club and is always learning.
“You have to be respectful to West Ham, that is his club, but his future is in his hands and it’s very exciting for him because he’s got everything with him now and he’s picking up more and more, he’s growing into this man who could play anywhere.
“I’m looking forward to wherever he goes. I hope it is Arsenal, it would be a massive signing and a perfect fit.”
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