Jack Wilshere is reportedly in talks with Arsenal about a return to the club in a head coach role with a youth team despite being offered an extension with AGF Århus.
Jack Wilshere signed a short-term contract with Danish side, AGF Århus, in February which expires this summer.
Despite recently admitting that they have offered him an extension, the Evening Standard, in an exclusive by Simon Collings, claim that Wilshere is in talks with Arsenal, having spoken to Academy manager, Per Mertesacker, about a coaching role at the club.
Arsenal are looking to replace Kevin Betsy (u18s) and Dan Micciche (u23s) who both left this month to join Crawley Town.
“I didn’t ever reach my full potential as a player — and everyone knows that,” Wilshere said last month.
“I don’t think I will ever accept it until I’ve reached that as a coach. It’s a difficult thing to accept and that’s why I still have a big, burning desire in me to be successful in the game.
“I just feel like there’s something still in me that wants to get to a high level. And that probably won’t ever be as a player again. So if I can do that as a coach, why not?
“I think I would love to go back to Arsenal and coach, once I have fully made that decision.”
In a Daily Cannon exclusive interview with Wilshere at the start of June, the 30-year-old was already keen to offer advice to Arsenal’s youngsters who are having to bide their time on the bench.
Asked if watching on from the sidelines can cause some mixed emotions, especially for someone like Zak Swanson who has yet to make his debut, Wilshere replied,
“You’re spot on, as a former [youth] player I was in a similar position and I hated it,” Wilshere answered. “I just wanted to get on the pitch. So he’ll have that in him.
“But from a coach’s point of view, for him to be around that and to experience that, because it’s not just what all the fans see – him on the bench – but it’s the work that he does in the week to get to that.
“He’s preparing with the first team, he’s training with them every day, so the manager obviously sees something.
“Obviously, there’s not been the right opportunity to put him on the pitch.
“But I think for his own development, for his career going forward, a lot of clubs might look at that and think ‘right, we’ll take him on loan, if he’s good enough to be in the Arsenal squad then why shouldn’t we take a chance on him?’
“I remember when I was a player in that situation, and I think it was only like five games I was on the bench, I was just desperate to get on the pitch.
“But it will come for him.”
Wilshere has, of course, previously done coaching work at the club with the u18s and u23s, but how great would it be to have him back at the club full-time?