Arsenal ready to launch 'secret weapon' to land top transfer priority

Tom Hancock

• Updated: 30 Mar 2023 14:48 BST
• 3 min read

Ex-Arsenal star Jack Wilshere could hold the key to his former club’s chances of signing Declan Rice this summer.

The Gunners continue to be strongly linked with a swoop for the West Ham captain, who is about to enter the final 12 months of his contract at the London Stadium.

Wilshere played alongside Rice during his spell at West Ham between 2018 and 2020 and, now retired, has returned to Arsenal to coach the club’s U18 side.

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And the former England international – who made 197 appearances for Arsenal after developing through the club’s youth system – feels that Rice would thrive with the premier League leaders.

Earlier this week, Wilshere told PA Sport: “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.”

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'The perfect fit'

Wilshere believes the sky is the limit for Rice – now established as an integral member of Gareth Southgate’s England team – and added: “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.”

Rice is currently valued at £56.4m (€64m) by our Estimated Transfer Value (ETV) model, but West Ham boss David Moyes has previously claimed the Hammers would accept nothing less than £150m (€170.1m) for their star man.