Roma and AC Milan have joined the race for Jack Wilshere, according to reports in Italy.

Wilshere is still yet to publicly make any sort of statement about where his future lies, now in the final year of his Arsenal contract.

Newcastle and Juventus have already been linked with the player, but Roma and AC Milan have apparently joined the Italian champions in the race for his signature, according to The Sun at least.

The report also claims that Granit Xhaka, Aaron Ramsey and Mohamed Elneny are now all preferred to Wilshere by Arsène Wenger, and this is proven by the Englishman’s lack of appearances in pre-season.

This segment of the article is obviously just nonsense considering Wilshere hasn’t yet been eligible for selection to prove his worth to the manager. However, with only two spots in the current team for central midfielders, the 25-year-old does have stiff competition for a starting place.

He performed well for the U23s against Derby, which was his first appearance back from his loan spell at Bournemouth and leg fracture injury, helping the Gunners to victory and building up his match fitness.

Nevertheless, his Arsenal future is in doubt and clubs are circling the midfielder this summer. Sampdoria have already had a bid rejected. Serie A may be an attractive proposition to Wilshere, with interest from the best sides in the division, although uprooting the family for a move to Italy could put him off, I feel.