Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola would consider a move for Jack Wilshere if he becomes available in the summer, according to former Barcelona midfielder Xavi Hernandez.
City will look to strengthen their squad again in the summer and Xavi says his former Barca boss Guardiola has "a lot of respect" for Wilshere, who is currently on loan at Bournemouth for the season from Arsenal.
Wilshere, who will enter the final 12 months of his Arsenal contract in the summer, is reportedly set to be offered a new deal by the Gunners, but Xavi says Guardiola would be interested in signing a player who made an impression on him during a Champions League clash with Barca in 2011.
"I know Pep has always had a lot of respect for Wilshere -- he impressed so many of the Barcelona team when we played Arsenal in 2011," Xavi, who plays for Qatari club Al Sadd, told Fox Latin America.
"He impressed me a lot that night, I know he also did Pep, and it will be a player that he would have been following ever since. We have talked about him, it was not a performance you forget easily.
"Technically he is the sort of player that Pep loves -- his only problem has been injuries -- and if it wasn't for the issues he has had with injuries I am sure he would be one of the best midfield players in the world.
"At the moment he seems to be doing well with his fitness, and if there is a chance to sign him in the summer, I am sure Pep will give it real consideration."
Wilshere has made 22 appearances for Bournemouth this season, including the 2-0 defeat to City on Monday, five more than in his two previous injury-troubled campaigns with Arsenal.
The 25-year-old, however, limped off in the loss to City with an ankle injury, although Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe is hoping it will not keep him out for too long.
"Jack is just feeling his ankle. I don't think there's a major injury there," he said. "He just felt he couldn't move as freely as he wanted to and had a pain in his ankle, so we took him off."