West Ham United is said to have a player who possesses similar qualities to those of France superstar Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi – but it’s a bit far-fetched.
That’s according to former Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who caused a stir earlier this month when he told beIN Sports that West Ham free transfer signing Jack Wilshere has similar qualities to the World Cup star.
But Hammers fans shouldn’t be getting carried away.
Wilshere has signed a three-year deal with West Ham in one of the most high profile transfers of the summer so far.
The Hammers were one of a number of clubs linked with a move for Wilshere, but it was new West Ham boss Manuel Pellegrini who won the race for the 26-year-old midfielder after he left the Gunners on July 1.
The signing of boyhood Hammer Wilshere has stirred debate in footballing circles over how much Wilshere has left to offer.
Many – including Jamie Redknapp – believe it is a great move for West Ham and the player.
Others feel he should have tested himself abroad.
But most West Ham fans are happy the midfielder has signed for them, and they will be even more excited after recent comments from Arsene Wenger.
Wenger managed Wilshere at Arsenal and has compared him to Barcelona great Lionel Messi in the past. Now he has likened Wilshere to France star Kylian Mbappe and Lionel Messi in an interview with beIN Sports.
“Jack Wilshere is a playmaker,” Wenger told beIN Sports.
“He makes me think about Mbappe because I played him at 17 years of age because he was an exceptional talent.
“He’s an exceptional player, he can pass people, he can give a final ball, he has a fantastic football brain. He can take pressure believe me.”
But West Ham fans shouldn’t get carried away by Wenger’s rather lofty comparisons. Any football fan would concede Wilshere is nowhere near the level of a Messi or a Mbappe.
If he is half the player then the Hammers would have managed one of the deals of the decade.
But the midfielder just needs to focus on staying fit and getting back to his best on a regular basis.
Wenger’s praise should be taken with a pinch of salt, too, after all he was the manager who loaned out Wilshere to a fellow Premier League club.
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