Jack Wilshere is close to joining Norwich City as first-team coach, with the Championship club confident of appointing the former Arsenal midfielder to their staff.

The 32-year-old former England international is Arsenal’s under-18s manager but has a good relationship with Norwich’s sporting director, Ben Knapper, who was the loans manager at Arsenal.

Wilshere retired from playing two years ago and quickly moved into coaching at Arsenal’s academy. Wilshere is primed to replace Narcís Pèlach, who left Norwich to become head coach at Stoke City last month.

Wilshere is expected to join Johannes Hoff Thorup’s coaching team, with Arsenal thought to have given their blessing. Agreeing a compensation package is expected to be straightforward and the move a formality.

Wilshere is understood to be excited by the project of helping Norwich return to the Premier League after relegation in 2021-22. Norwich, who visit Pèlach’s Stoke on Saturday, are seventh and unbeaten in four matches.

Wilshere, who made 197 appearances for Arsenal, began his coaching career by working with Arsenal’s under-14s. Discussing his move into coaching last year, Wilshere said: “I love it. It has given me back the real deep love for football – and didn’t know I’d lost it, to be honest.”