Arsenal are reportedly in the mix to sign Southampton star Kyle Walker-Peters this summer – a player Theo Walcott once said “stood out” in training following the Arsenal icon’s return to the south coast.
Walker-Peters, 25, joined Southampton from Tottenham in 2020 and has since gone on to become one of the first names on the team sheet. Clocking up 82 appearances, Walker-Peters has also become an England international.
He left Spurs after a lack of opportunities but is now showing all what he is capable of. Bought for a fee of £12million, Southampton could be about to double the fee they signed him for – and then some.
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That is because The Athletic say Arsenal and Manchester United are keen – while Tottenham have a buyback clause of £30million. Speaking about Walker-Peters in 2020, Walcott was full of praise for the Saints defender.
“I am rooming with Kyle at the moment and he is a very honest and good kid. He wants to work hard and with him on the right and me on the right we are already getting a good relationship going.”
“I’ve only trained twice because of the mini lockdown we have had. I have had my eye on a couple of the others players too but it’s Kyle who has really stood out to me,” Walcott said in 2020, as per Hampshire Live.
Arsenal in mix for Walker-Peters: Walcott said star ‘stood out’ in training
Do Arsenal need Walker-Peters? Well, the Gunners are set to enter a Europa League campaign. They will need depth and top-quality cover and Walker-Peters would certainly provide that, if he does not start.
Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney are first-choice options. It is hard to see Walker-Peters get in above them – but both are injury prone. Cedric Soares and Nuno Tavares, currently back-up, are being linked with an exit.
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