Arsenal Transfer News: Theo Walcott To Chelsea?

The Mirror. As we reported a couple of weeks ago, 23-year-old Walcott is flirting with shunning all contract offers from Arsenal, instead deciding to let his contract expire next summer where his position to negotiate a higher salary would be stronger. In January he would be able to negotiate a free contract move to any club he wants with Italian champions Juventus a preferred destination. Walcott currently earns around £65,000 per week but after being away on international duty at Euro 2012, he believes he is worth closer to the £100,000 a week deal that his England team-mates get at other clubs. Wenger's salary budget at the Emirates is likely to result in just one big astronomical contract being offered to a player, likely the PFA Player of the Year Robin Van Persie, leaving little funds available to offer Walcott the deal he requires. But it's actually something of a catch 22 situation for Walcott as he wants Arsenal to show some ambition in challenging for trophies and he feels keeping Van Persie at the Emirates is the only way they can achieve their goals and he wants to leave if Van Persie leaves. Arsenal may reluctantly cash in on Walcott given his contract situation and with Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain circling like vultures and ready to make offers, Walcott may decide to jump ship in pursuit of winning trophies. He has already seen the medals Ashley Cole, Samir Nasri, Kolo Toure and Gael Clichy have won at clubs since leaving Arsenal and he doesn't want to tie down his future with The Gunners who haven't won a trophy since well before he arrived. Arsenal value Walcott at £15 million but the likes of Juventus have already signalled their intent to play the waiting game, believing they could snatch him on a free pre-contract deal in just six months time.