LONDON • Arsenal are prepared to let Jack Wilshere go out on loan in a bid to revitalise his career.

Manager Arsene Wenger has sanctioned the midfielder's departure and a deal could be rushed through before the transfer window closes at 11pm tonight (British time).

The 24-year-old sought assurances about his future at the Emirates Stadium after finding himself sixth choice for a starting place in central midfield. Wenger clearly believes that the player can return to form by being given a chance to play regularly elsewhere.

The Arsenal manager, though, is not about to allow Wilshere to join any of the North London club's principal rivals for a top-four finish in the Premier League and might instead prefer a move abroad for the player.

Wilshere, who is behind Santi Cazorla, Aaron Ramsey, Francis Coquelin, Granit Xhaka and Mohamed Elneny in the pecking order, has yet to start a game this season.

He joined the Arsenal academy aged nine and has had only one brief spell away from the club, when he played 14 matches for Bolton Wanderers on loan in 2010.

That was the year he also made his senior England debut. He won the last of his 34 caps in a goal-less draw with Slovakia during Euro 2016, but was omitted from Sam Allardyce's squad for this Sunday's World Cup qualifier against the same opponents.

On Monday, Wilshere was warned by the new England manager that he needs to be a regular starter for Arsenal before returning to the national side. He has had a total of just 37 minutes off the substitutes' bench this season.

"Jack just hasn't had enough game time," Allardyce said.

"Hopefully he will get that in the future at Arsenal. If Jack Wilshere was playing every week for Arsenal he would be in the squad, but unfortunately he isn't.

"It is game time for him and it has been few and far between because he has had too many injuries.

"It is a question of the contribution he is making to Arsenal and he is not doing that at the moment, so I left him out."

THE TIMES, LONDON