Wilshere is one of seven new faces at West Ham this summer.
Wilshere, 26, is one of seven new faces at the London Stadium after joining the club from Arsenal on a free transfer after his contract expired at The Emirates. New manager Unai Emery told Wilshere that he would struggle for game time.
It has seen him join the likes of Mark Noble, Pedro Obiang, Cheikhou Kouyate and Edimilson Fernandes in West Ham’s engine room, alongside newbies such as Felipe Anderson, Issa Diop and Andriy Yarmolenko.
Cole, who came through the academy at West Ham before eventually joining Chelsea, has urged Pellegrini to play the England international in deep midfield rather than the number 10 role – and reckons he shows similarities to Verratti.
“I look at him and think he is a similar player to myself, in terms of style,” Cole said. “I’d like to have coached him, I still think he has levels to go up if you keep him fit.
“As a manager, I would have managed him differently to how he has been managed; he’d have played more games. I’d play him in a position deeper than the number 10 role, as a number 10, that’s when he gets into a bit of trouble.
“I’d play him more in midfield when he can pick and choose his moments to go, and be more explosive; he’s more effective there. People might have looked at him as an Eden Hazard, I’m looking at him like a Marco Verratti.”
Wilshere has joined a club that he has followed throughout his entire life, with it well-documented that his family are big West Ham fans.
He is expected to make his debut for West Ham on August 12, as the east Londoners travel north to Merseyside to face Champions League finalists Liverpool at Anfield.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
