After an impressive season under Slaven Bilic last term, West Ham were expected to kick-on this campaign but the Hammers have struggled to make the London Stadium feel like home and are seeking major changes this summer.

Having lost star-man Dimitri Payet in January, the West Ham squad is crying out for a big name who is dedicated to the cause- and they could find the ideal figure on the fringes across London.

Currently on-loan at Bournemouth, Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere faces an uncertain future in North London as he enters the final 12 months of his contract and seeks first-team assurances if he is to extend his deal.

The Gunners may struggle to offer that and that could play into West Ham’s hand, as it really is a match made in heaven.

After a few seasons plagued by injury, Wilshere has a point to prove ahead of the World Cup next summer and has to show he’s deserving of the many plaudits that have come his way over the years- with many feeling he hasn’t lived up the hype he created as a teenager.

One thing that is for certain is that Wilshere has passion, which has landed him in hot water with his anti-Spurs chants in Arsenal’s FA Cup celebrations, and it’s that sort of attitude that would make him a fan-favourite in East London.

Wilshere is passionate, dedicated and extremely talented, all of which are superb attributes to have. At the age of 25, Wilshere also has plenty of years ahead of him and could even be a future captain at the club.

He wears his heart on his sleeve and can be crafted into a leader, whilst he’d also be the stand-out name on the team-sheet that the Hammers are searching for following Payet’s unceremonial exit in the mid-season window.

Wilshere would cost a premium price despite his contract situation, as is customary with British players, but it would certainly be money well spent from West Ham and the England international could provide the catalyst to push the Hammers back towards European football.

He’s vastly experienced, with over 100 Premier League appearances for Arsenal alone, and boasts 34 England caps- as well as winning two FA Cups with the Gunners and featuring regularly in the Champions League.

That sort of player doesn’t become available on the market too often and, when they do, the Premier League’s big guns are usually first in the hunt. That won’t be the situation with Wilshere though, as Arsenal would refuse to sell to a direct rival- but West Ham could be deemed a suitable destination.

West Ham’s biggest competition in the market would likely come from abroad, with the likes of AC Milan interested, but Wilshere would more than likely elect to stay in English football as players from our shores are reluctant to leave the British Isles.

AC Milan are also no longer the superpower they once were and the project at West Ham could certainly be more appealing than one with the Serie A’s sleeping giants, as the challenges facing Milan are far more extreme to those facing the Hammers.