Jack Wilshere names the signing that would make Arsenal title favorites

Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has named the player he believes would make the Gunners favorites to win the Premier League.

Whoever signs Declan Rice will become favorites in the Premier League title race including Arsenal, says Jack Wilshere.

The 22-year-old has impressed in the West Ham midfield and isn’t short of suitors. Manchester United and Chelsea, whom he played for as a youngster, are both interested. It may take offers of around £80 million, though, to prize him away from east London.

But Wilshere has suggested Arsenal should also throw their hat in the ring as the defensive midfielder would be an ideal partner for Thomas Partey and can tip the title battle in the club’s favor.

“Whoever signs Declan Rice becomes title favorites,” the ex-Gunners star told TalkSPORT’s Premier League Preview Show.

“I would include Arsenal in that. If they had Partey and Rice next to each other and let the front five run wild. I mean it.”

When asked how much money clubs would need to pay for his former West Ham teammate, Wilshere guessed: “£80m”.

How has the Gunners’ transfer business gone so far?

While a first Premier League title since 2004 is perhaps a long shot, Arsenal have been pretty active in the transfer window.

The Gunners have welcomed three new signings – Ben White, Albert Sambi Lokonga, and Nuno Tavares – for a combined fee of €84 million (£71.2m).

David Luiz has left the London side as a free agent this summer. Dani Ceballos, Martin Odegaard, and Mathew Ryan have returned to their parent clubs. While Matteo Guendouzi, William Saliba, and Dejan Iliev have all gone out on loan for the 2021/22 campaign.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is currently on the lookout for a new creative midfielder. Leicester City’s James Maddison and Real Madrid’s Odegaard, who spent the second half of last season on loan at the Emirates, top his shortlist. Sheffield United goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is another target on the Spaniard’s radar.