Bookies have slashed their prices for Jack Wilshere to leave Arsenal for London rivals West Ham.

The Islington Gazette spoke to a source close to the player who had said negotiations with the North London giants were ‘ongoing’ until recently.

While the Gunners had upped their original offer believed to be in the region of £85,000 per week to ‘low six figures’, any possible deal would still include a heavily incentivised portion due to the 26-year-old’s previous injury record.

Ironically Wilshere played his highest number of games for three seasons for Arsenal last term, making 38 appearances, scoring two goals – proving his long-term fitness just as his contract is due to expire at the end of this month.

Both parties have reached a stalemate, with Arsenal refusing to budge from increasing their offer ahead of the expiry date.

The impasse has led bookmakers to cut the odds from 9-1 to 7-4 for the talented Wilshere to leave the Emirates for West Ham as he and his advisors mull over their options.

BetStars director of trading Ian Marmion said: “Wilshere’s potential availability on a free transfer is likely to turn the heads of several clubs, though, with [Crystal Palace boss] Roy Hodgson also pondering a move for him.”

With West Ham’s Argentina midfielder Manuel Lanzini missing the World Cup after suffering a ruptured anterior knee ligament injury in training after being named in Jorge Sampaoli’s 23-man squad earlier this month, Wilshere is an attractive option for new boss Manuel Pellegrini.

However, South London could still be an option too as Hodgson worked with Wilshere during his tenure as England manager and is known to be an admirer of the box-to-box midfielder who has won 34 caps for his country.

Palace are priced at 4-1 to bring Wilshere to Selhurst Park as a replacement for the outgoing Yohan Cabaye.

Wilshere could join nine other players who have departed Arsenal so far this summer including former first teamers Santi Cazorla who has returned to former club Villarreal and Per Mertesacker who has ended his playing days by taking up a senior role at the club’s academy.

The others are Marc Bola, Alex Crean, Aaron Eyoma, Ryan Huddart, Chlorin Johnson, Hugo Keto and Tafari Moore.

For more information visit BetStars www.betstars.uk/en-gb/news/football/transfer-betting-odds.shtml