Arsenal Transfer News: Theo Walcott To Stay As Contract Talks Begin
Arsenal and Theo Walcott have finally entered negotiations over a new deal.
The Mirror. They report today that that the England winger is discussing a new five-year deal at the Emirates Stadium that would make Walcott one of the club's top earners. Discussions took place on Friday as Gunners boss Arsene Wenger looks to tie down the 23-year-old for the long term. Currently, Walcott has only one year left remaining on his current deal, which left him in a similar situation to that of Robin van Persie, who Arsenal couldn't convince to stay this summer and they eventually sold their captain to Manchester United. As Walcott's contract situation continued to go unresolved this summer, fears were growing that the club may decide to offload their winger to recoup a transfer free, otherwise risk losing him for a free at the end of the season. The Mirror reports that Arsenal have offered Walcott a pay-rise of over £70,000-a-week in order to convince him to commit his future to the club. Arsene Wenger said yesterday about the situation ahead of Arsenal's match against Stoke on Sunday;
I hope he will stay, and thats it. There is big competition going on everywhere. We have so many players in midfield and on the flanks but Theo is a very important player for me. Negotiations continue, at the moment not directly with me, but we try to sort it out, and we will try to sort it out one way or the other. We want to extend his contract, and to keep him at the club - but you need not only our desire. His desire is also right, he wants to stay and we need to find an agreement. I could spend all of my press conferences dealing with the if question. But lets live in the real world. At the moment both parties are around the table.Walcott has been named in Arsenal's squad for Sunday's game and looks likely to start. Kick-off at the Britannia Stadium is at 1.30pm and the match will be screened live on Sky Sports.