West Ham United have reportedly held talks with free agent Jack Wilshere.
West Ham are one of a number of clubs who have been linked with a move for former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere.
And the Hammers have held talks with the free agent, as reported by the likes of Sky Sports.
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West Ham under new manager Manuel Pellegrini, are reportedly keen on the 26-year-old midfielder after he left Arsenal on July 1.
That followed talks with new Gunners boss Unai Emery who reportedly told Wilshere his game time would be “significantly reduced” if he chose to remain at the Emirates.
Many West Ham fans are excited at the prospect of signing the boyhood Hammer who was famously pictured in the club’s claret and blue Fila strip as a kid and later named legend Paolo Di Canio as his football idol.
However, some West Ham fans are also concerned the club will be making a mistake bringing yet another injury prone player to the club after having their fingers burned in recent years with the likes of Andy Carroll.
Defender Winston Reid and midfielders Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio have also proved to be unreliable when it comes to injuries.
Sceptical fans also feel Wilshere’s star is fading with his unsuccessful loan spell at Bournemouth, his departure from Arsenal and his failure to make the England squad for the Russia World Cup fresh in the memory.
Those fans are understandably wary of the club splashing big wages to add another to the squad which could then leave them short after the transfer window closes given Wilshere made just 19 appearances for Arsenal in the three years between 2014 and 2017.
But West Ham fans need not worry about either his fitness or his quality as his statistics knock spots off their current crop of midfielders.
Wilshere has has made 47 league appearances for Arsenal and Bournemouth in the last two seasons which should go some way to putting those doubts over his fitness to bed.
His pass completion rate last season was 86%, putting him ahead of any of West Ham’s current midfielders while he also had three assists, equal with Lanzini despite playing only 20 games.
He attempted 45 dribbles in those matches, the second best figures when compared to all of West Ham’s midfielders and had a tackle success of 67%, joint third.
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