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Theo Walcott: Everton in negotiations to sign Arsenal forward permanently

Last updated on .From the section Evertoncomments421

Walcott has scored 108 goals for Arsenal since joining in 2006
Walcott has scored 108 goals for Arsenal since joining in 2006

Everton manager Sam Allardyce says the club is negotiating with Arsenal to sign Theo Walcott on a permanent deal.

Allardyce said the 28-year-old forward would be a "fantastic addition", who would offer "goalscoring threat".

He added: "If it's possible to be over the line I'd be delighted. It's not imminent but negotiations are ongoing."

Walcott - a two-time FA Cup winner with Arsenal - has featured 395 times for the club but has played just 47 minutes in the Premier League this season.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says he has informed Walcott he wants him to stay but added on Friday he has not guaranteed game time to the England international, who has 18 months left on his contract.

Wenger said: "We still have a good relationship and I don't want him to be frustrated or lose any opportunity to play in the World Cup, because Theo went to the World Cup in Germany in 2006 and we are now in 2018 and he's not been since for different reasons. That of course is a sensitive subject."

'Pace is a key strength'

Walcott has scored over 10 goals in a campaign in four of his 13 seasons at Arsenal
Walcott has scored over 10 goals in a campaign in four of his 13 seasons at Arsenal

Allardyce, who has already signed striker Cenk Tosun from Besitkas for £27m in January, says any signings made in addition to a deal for Walcott would only happen if players left Everton first.

But he views Walcott as "proven", citing his "goalscoring threat" and "crossing ability" as key attributes.

"He's scored 100 goals for Arsenal from wide positions," said Allardyce. "His pace is a key strength which we lack. To add goals would be very important for me. And he's only 28.

"If that can be sorted out it would be a great addition from an attacking point of view. I don't think there's a chance of a loan.

"I don't get optimistic otherwise I get disappointed. I'll be very excited and enthused when someone, even if it's not Theo, has signed on the dotted line."

Walcott joined Arsenal for £5m from Southampton in 2006.

He has scored 108 goals for the club, with his most prolific season coming in 2012-2013, when he found the net 21 times in 43 appearances.

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421 comments

  • Comment posted by TheHarold, at 10:42 12 Jan 2018

    At best, he's a fringe player for any of the top 4. Going to any club between 5th and 15th would be a good move for him, and potentially England if he can get some form back.
    Allardyce is good at getting the most from the players he has (haters will down mark this, but his record at clubs is unbelievable).
    Good move all round.
    But crossing ability?! Since when?!

  • Comment posted by Anyone, at 10:39 12 Jan 2018

    If he he values playing time more than just cash he should go to Everton

  • Comment posted by Rich-D, at 10:39 12 Jan 2018

    Crossing ability is a key strength of Walcotts..........really?!?!

  • Comment posted by DaBeAst, at 10:39 12 Jan 2018

    Remember the young Walcott from 10 years ago, what potential he had.

    If there has ever been a better example of mismanagement of a player. Such as shame :(

  • Comment posted by how2b, at 10:49 12 Jan 2018

    Will the last player to leave Arsenal ............. Please , turn out the lights .........

  • Comment posted by MNG, at 10:42 12 Jan 2018

    Get under Big Sam's wing and a fresh start. Great opportunity for him.

  • Comment posted by simon, at 10:48 12 Jan 2018

    should have left arsenal long ago never properly used from the moment he left southampton

  • Comment posted by doug, at 10:50 12 Jan 2018

    I'm not entirely sure Wenger coaches players on how to play. Guardiola has worked miracles with Sterling whose movement, positioning and finishing has improved tremendously, allowing him to get into dangerous positions and win games. I would rate Walcott's natural attributes more highly than Sterling's, but he hasn't got a natural footballing brain and has been let down by the coaching.

  • Comment posted by Spurtle, at 10:45 12 Jan 2018

    The fact that Allardyce rates Walcott's crossing ability is a worry to Everton fans, both about Walcott and Allardyce.

  • Comment posted by User0142420121, at 12:05 12 Jan 2018

    Question for Arsenal fans:

    Why haven't/hadn't Walcott, Wilshere, Welbeck, Chambers, Holding, Gibbs, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Debuchy, Lacazette, Ozil, Giroud, Iwobi, Cazorla, Bellerin, Xhaka, Elneny and a few others IMPROVED whilst being at your club and what why are most of these always INJURED

    It's very well saying Walcott has a poor attitude but why have most of your squad had similar careers?

  • Comment posted by We_WONT_be_OUTGUNNED, at 11:01 12 Jan 2018

    In a tactically defensive team, countering against opposition with high lines ( ie against Arsenal, City) he will be devastating. Unfortunately, we play against teams who love defending deep, so Theo doesn't suit our playing style anymore.

    Good luck to him and I hope Arsene goes all out to get an excellent, upgraded replacement. Which wont happen we know :(

  • Comment posted by D1679639342724, at 10:50 12 Jan 2018

    He will add a bit of pace and width for Everton. Walcott has been something of an ephemeral presence at Arsenal this season. I cannot help but feel that for all his potential he never had that one breakthrough season and only showed glimpses here and there. It was the same with England. Maybe a move will rejuvenate him.

  • Comment posted by User0925904531, at 11:04 12 Jan 2018

    Wenger has a pattern......sells players who are of reasonable quality.......buys few or cheap develops them for later use......but Arsene .....time is not on your side at the moment .I hope you realise that.

  • Comment posted by Judge - Deckard , at 10:42 12 Jan 2018

    Everton need strikers and pace , to many number 10s

  • Comment posted by True Shrew, at 13:13 12 Jan 2018

    Young players being paid loads of money doesn't help to develop them, a young player needs hunger and ambition to get the best out of them, as a teenager Walcott was a rising star who never got any better.

  • Comment posted by Sam Crow, at 11:09 12 Jan 2018

    That Iranian bloke isn't very clever with his cash, is he?

  • Comment posted by magicmira, at 13:09 12 Jan 2018

    Massive talent not realised, players can never improve if they don't play all the time when developing as young players. Wenger never put his faith in him, his career seems to have been in terminal decline for years

  • Comment posted by D1679283483148, at 13:07 12 Jan 2018

    Of the same ilk as Oxlade-Chamberlin, promises much , but the end product is woeful..

  • Comment posted by Diprose_Gardner, at 13:10 12 Jan 2018

    108 goals in 11 years for a striker in a top 6 side like Arsenal is not what you would call prolific or a real threat in front of goal. He has spent his whole career being over rated. But fair play to him as a businessman, not many people make so much money with so little talent.

  • Comment posted by User0142420121, at 14:21 12 Jan 2018

    Walcott is 28. His career is far from over. Messi is 30, Suarez is 30, Ronaldo is 32 and they're the best 3 players in the world, the first name on any team sheet despite their age. Obviously Walcott is far from their ability but there's no way he should be written off. It's an English mentality - For the same stupid reason Rashford is picked for England ahead of Vardy. Vardy beats Rashford easily

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