Arsenal transfer news: West Ham line up move for Jack Wilshere

Wilshere to West Ham?

New West Ham United manager Manuel Pellegrini is determined to make Jack Wilshere his first summer signing, reports the Daily Star.

The paper says that Pellegrini, who succeeded David Moyes at the Hammers last month, is an ardent admirer of the England reject and believes he can lure him across London.

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The Chilean gaffer first took notice of Wilshere during his time in charge of Manchester City. There were suggestions at the time that had it not been for his persistent ankle injuries he would have made a move to bring the Arsenal midfielder to the Etihad.

Now, says the Star, Pellegrini is “poised to renew his interest”, having caught wind of rumours that Wilshere believes it’s time he moved on from the Emirates in order to reinvigorate his England career. Wilshere’s Arsenal contract expires at the end of the month and he would be available on a free transfer.

Not that West Ham are alone in tailing the 26-year-old Wilshere. The Star says that Everton, Crystal Palace, Newcastle and newly-promoted Wolves and Fulham are also keen on the man omitted from England’s World Cup squad.

But there remains the outside possibility that Wilshere will stay loyal to Arsenal, depending on the outcome of “crunch talks this month with new Gunners coach Unai Emery”.

Apparently the Spaniard wants the playmaker to sign a new deal but Wilshere is unhappy with what he was offered by Arsene Wenger, which was a contract “based on the number of games he plays in a season”.

N’Zonzi on the radar

If Jack Wilshere does leave will Sevilla midfielder Steven N’Zonzi be his replacement in north London?

TalkSPORT is one of several outlets claiming that Emery is chasing the former Blackburn Rovers and Stoke City star. Emery got to know the 29-year-old well when he was in charge of Sevilla and it’s reported that he’s working to sign N’Zonzi.

Arsenal head of recruitment Sven Mislintat is “ready to sanction the deal after conversations with Emery” and the deal – thought to be in the region of £10m – could be concluded this week.

Emery keen on keeper Cillessen

Arsenal manager Unai Emery has lost no time in addressing the club’s defensive frailties, reports Metro. The Spaniard is using his mother tongue to ask Barcelona if they might be able to buy Jasper Cillessen.

The 29-year-old goalkeeper has also been scouted by Chelsea in recent months but Metro, taking Spanish outlet Sport as its source, says that the Gunners have made “a direct approach to Barcelona to gauge whether a deal is possible”.

Cillessen is currently understudy to Marc-Andre ter Stegen at the Camp Nou and so he’s open to persuasion. But Metro reports that Barcelona are “not prepared to sell the Netherlands international for anything lower than his €60m [£52m] release clause”.

Chelsea may yet make a bid of their own. There are also suggestions that Liverpool could come calling this summer.