Has Walcott found his next club? By AH
Theo Walcott has not endured the best of seasons at Arsenal this year, simply adding to his miserable performances that he has been hindered by, ever since the ‘Sign Da Ting’ days. Now as the summer transfer window approaches ever closer, the 27 year-old is being linked with a move away from the club. Could his poor performances for the Gunners finally see him off?
Back in the ‘Sign Da Ting’ days of 2012-13, Walcott finally seemed to be showing the potential that he had been promised to have since Arsenal signed him in 2006. However 10 years on from his transfer from Southampton, the England international has never lived up to what was expected of him. Now after yet another sorry season full of misery for Walcott, it seems as if Wenger and Arsenal may have finally given up on handing Walcott chance after chance. The Metro has today reported that the Arsenal winger, who has 85 goals for the club, has been subject to interest from fellow Premier League club, West Ham United.
The forward has in the past gathered interest from a number of Premier League clubs, with both Chelsea and Liverpool supposedly lodging bids several seasons ago. Back then Arsenal was receiving a greater value for his 100k per-week wages, however now with the likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Joel Campbell and newly promoted youngster Alex Iwobi performing better than Arsenal’s current longest serviceman, could Arsenal finally cash in?
The biggest stumbling block in my opinion will not be finding potential suitors for Walcott, because he could well do a job for a lower positioned club, but instead the biggest problem could be his high wages. The likes of former suitors Chelsea and Liverpool may not have any problem with paying Theo his wage demands, but West Ham may not be so willing to commit such funds.
The transfer of the Southampton youth product could also potentially happen at any point of this summer, with the 27 year old, apparently close to being left out of England’s 23 man squad for the European Championships in France. Do you think Walcott should finally leave the club after 10 years of service? Or do you think he will be kept for the ‘experience’ he supposedly offers the team?
Ashley Hooker