Theo Walcott is claimed to be a possible departure come January, with Arsenal believed to have told him to play for his future.
The winger joined the club as a 16 year-old from Southampton back in 2016, and despite huge expectations and potential, has struggled to make major waves for the Gunners.
Walcott is currently Arsenal’s longest serving star, clocking up 12 years with the club come January, but unfortunately for him loyalty counts for nothing, as we look to offload the speedster.
West Ham, Everton and former club the Saints are all believed to be keen on his potential arrival, but the stumbling block on any potential deal would likely be his wage demands.
Walcott is believed to be amongst the club’s highest earners at present, earning a reported £110,000 a-week, and the forward would no doubt hope to better his current terms in order to switch.
The 28 year-old has just over 18 months remaining on his current contract, and is said to have been told that he will not be offered a new one unless he can prove he is deserving of one, and with him currently struggling to break into the starting line-up, that may well prove too tough to achieve.
Theo has bagged himself goals in his starts against both Doncaster and Cologne this term already, but his overall appearances are thought to have left little impression on his French boss.
His battle for first-team action has not been helped by the change to a 3-4-2-1 system last term, and he now has to battle with the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck, Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Alex Iwobi and Jack Wilshere for a spot in the front three.
Is it time Walcott decided to quit the club? Could he earn an extended stay? Will one of his potential suitors be able to meet his wage demands?
Pat J