Arsenal are ready to hand Jack Wilshere a bumper pay-rise. The Daily Mail says preliminary discussions regarding a deal extension, which will see the 20-year-old net a significant increase on his £50,000-a-week deal, have taken place.

The England star still has two-and-a-half years left to run on that contract but the Arsenal hierarchy are understandably eager to extend it. They do not want any uncertainty over Wilshere's future.

Germany forward Lukas Podolski is understood to be the club's top earner on £90,000 a week but, while Wilshere's next offer is unlikely to be on that scale, the pay increase will make him one of the Gunners' best-paid players.