Arsenal WILL sell Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott in January with England star set to rejoin Southampton
ARSENAL plan to flog Theo Walcott back to Southampton for around £15million after his Gunners career hit the skids, according to reports.
Despite collecting £110,000-a-week the England winger is yet to start a Premier League game this season and the Express report he’s headed for a South Coast return.
The 28-year-old has just 27 minutes of top-flight football under his belt this season but has started the unfashionable Europa League and League Cup games.
Arsene Wenger has Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, Alexandre Lacazette and Olivier Giroud fighting for the central-striker role that Walcott has always wanted and it’s a losing battle for the former Saint.
Walcott has 18 months left on his current Arsenal contract so Southampton will not have to break the bank to lure him back.
But interest from Premier League rivals West Ham and Everton – as well as Serie A side Inter Milan – could drive his price up.
Walcott left Southampton for north London in 2006 but has struggled to really fulfil his potential and his blistering speed remains his only stand-out asset.
Southampton made the Three Lions man their youngest ever player when he made his debut in 2005, aged just 16 years and 143 days.
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And their prolific academy produced Gareth Bale and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the following years.
Walcott and Wenger appeared to have a clash of opinions after the player criticised his team-mates for a lack of commitment after a defeat to Crystal Palace in April.
But Wenger said his blunt summary of his side’s efforts was “unacceptable”.
There is also growing speculation that Wenger will sell Mesut Ozil as he nears the end of his contract.
The French boss refused to budge on Alexis Sanchez in the summer - when Chelsea, Manchester City and PSG were all interested - but Ozil is not as popular.
Some Gunners fans see him as the sort of world-class talent they should be fighting for, while others see him as a Premier League lightweight who is dragging them down the table.
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