West Ham are reported to be keen on landing one of our English contingent this summer, with Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain linked with the exit door.
Both players arrived from Southampton as young future stars, but neither are regular starters for our club, and I’m torn as to whether I would mind seeing the back of them.
Both are known to be rated highly by Arsene Wenger, but after a string of injuries to both stars spread over a number of seasons, their importance to our side has been extremely limited.
Theo Walcott started this season in impressive fashion, challenging Olivier Giroud for a central striking role, and the attacking pair seemed to thrive off each-other, but that didn’t last, and he has been more of a liability since returning from injury in December.
The 27 year-old England hopeful has since come under increased scrutiny from our fans, which was fuelled by Arsene Wenger when he claimed the best was still to come from Walcott, but there is the possibility that the French boss could be trying to maximise his value should he agree to sell.
Oxlade is said to be the preferred purchase for the East London side, and given he has only been selected to start in nine of the club’s fixtures when fit, he could be willing to accept a move this summer.
The 22 year-old must surely retain the most potential however, being five years his team-mates younger, and will surely not be allowed to leave by Wenger, unless the Frenchman agrees to allow him to leave on a temporary deal.
With the other Alex (Iwobi) having emerged from the youth team to nail down a deserved first-team role this season, The Ox could well be allowed to return to form elsewhere, with both Southampton and West Ham believed to be keen, but surely with his current contract set to run until 2018, I just cant comprehend a possible sale.
Do you think Walcott is here to stay? Would you let the midfielder go out on loan to prove himself next year?