Former England midfielder Jack Wilshere has expressed hope that Ethan Nwaneri stays at Arsenal.

However, Wilshere has insisted his focus is on making the 16-year-old better while he is at the club.

Nwaneri became the youngest ever footballer to play in an English top-flight game earlier in the season when he came on during Arsenal’s 3-0 win at Brentford at age 15 years and 181 days.

But there are fears the Gunners could lose the midfielder, who cannot sign a professional contract until he turns 17, with Chelsea and Manchester City known to be admirers.

Wilshere, who is Nwaneri’s coach at Arsenal Under-18s, said: “We all hope he stays because he’s an exceptional talent."

“As coaches, we don’t get involved and we don’t talk about that." I think we have to make it clear that we don’t talk about that. That’s nothing. "Our job is to develop Ethan to help him when he goes with the first team.”