Jack Wilshere reveals conversations with Declan Rice amid talk of ‘perfect’ Arsenal move

Jack Wilshere believes Declan Rice would be a “perfect” signing for Arsenal as he hailed the West Ham captain.

Rice is expected to leave West Ham in the summer and while the Gunners view the midfielder as one of their top targets, Chelsea are among the clubs to have long-standing interest in the 24-year-old, who came through the Blues’ academy.

It’s likely that West Ham will try and hold out for well over £100million should they ultimately decide to sell Rice, who has rejected three contract offers from the club to extend his current deal which expires in the summer of 2024. West Ham do have the option to extend that by a further year.

Wilshere spent two-and-a-half years as a West Ham player alongside Rice after joining in 2018, and the Arsenal U18s head coach is desperate for his former team-mate to make the move to north London and progress further under Mikel Arteta.

“He’s a midfielder who can do anything,” Wilshere told the PA news agency.

“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.”