Jack Wilshere, 32, ‘in advanced talks to quit Arsenal for first-team coaching role’

JACK WILSHERE is in advanced talks to leave Arsenal and take up a first-team coaching role elsewhere, according to reports.

Wilshere, 32, currently works as U18s head coach for the Gunners, having been forced to retire from playing early with injury.

Now, The Athletic are reporting that Wilshere is in advanced talks to join Championship outfit Norwich City as part of their coaching staff.

It’s claimed that Wilshere would replace Narcis Pelach at the club, who left last month to take over at Stoke City.

Norwich are understood to be “increasingly confident” that Wilshere will make the switch to join them a Carrow Road.

However, it’s thought that any deal is unlikely to get over the line before the Canaries face Stoke on Saturday.

Former England international Wilshere is reportedly “excited” by the opportunity to join Johannes Hoff Thorup’s backroom staff at Norwich.

While the move has been helped on by the former midfielder’s relationship with Norwich’s sporting director Ben Knapper.

Knapper previously worked as Arsenal‘s loans manager during Wilshere’s time at the club.

Wilshere was highly rated as a young player but saw his career scuppered by injuries after bursting onto the scene under Arsene Wenger at Arsenal.

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Those injuries got the better of him in 2022 when he hung up his boots, aged just 30, after spells with West Ham, Bournemouth and Danish outfit Aarhus GF.

It was that same summer that the former rising star began his role as head coach of the Gunners’ U18s.

During his first season as boss of the youth team he managed to guide the youngsters to the FA Youth Cup final, ultimately losing to West Ham.

While he also helped nurture talent such as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.