AC Milan boss Gennaro Gattuso hails Arsenal star Jack Wilshere amid Serie A interest

AC Milan manager Gennaro Gattuso offered a glowing assessment of Jack Wilshere’s talents amid interest from Italian giants in the Arsenal playmaker.

Wilshere’s future at Arsenal is in increasing doubt after manager Arsene Wenger confirmed today that there had been no progress in talks to extend a contract that is due to expire at the end of the season.

Arsenal have put together an offer understood to include significant performance incentives, which Wilshere strongly hinted last week had left him unhappy as he told Standard Sport that “things have changed” over his future.

Juventus are circling the playmaker and have an impressive track record of snaring top talent when their contracts expire, bringing in the likes of Andrea Pirlo, Paul Pogba and Sami Khedira on free transfers.

Milan have also been linked with Wilshere and Gattuso is convinced the England midfielder could thrive in Serie A or any other major European league.

"I remember when I came here in 2012 in this stadium he was a kid but I think he can play in any league," Gattuso said.

"He might be not super fast but he’s got great skills, he’s very technical. When he gets the ball he knows exactly where to send it.

"He can change the pace of the game, play central midfield or play further ahead. He had physical problems but he has great talents.

"I don’t know where he’ll end up with his contract but I admire him. He has the mentality of an English player but plays like a Spanish player."

Gattuso’s Milan side face Arsenal in the second leg of their Europa League round of 16 tie needing to overturn a two-goal deficit after Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Aaron Ramsey struck for the Gunners in the San Siro last week.

Arsenal have won 14 away first legs in European competitions and have qualified on every occasions, whilst Milan have overturned a home deficit in only one of their last seven ties.

Asked whether his side were ready to prove the history books wrong, Gattuso was adamant: "We’re born ready!

"In football there is nothing more beautiful than to overturn the odds and make history, our dream is this, we will try to find the perfect game even if there is a bit of tiredness, but no excuses.

"We didn’t come here for a day trip and we didn’t underestimate Arsenal at San Siro, they simply played better than we did. Tomorrow we hope it’ll be different."