Everton, West Ham United, Newcastle and Southampton are all interested in Arsenal’s Theo Walcott, but the Toffees are about to make the first move.
Who knows where Theo Walcott will be playing his football next month? Arsenal’s longest serving player has never been more out of favour at The Emirates, but there is no shortage of clubs willing to offer him the chance to kick-start his career.
According to The Express, former club Southampton want to bring Walcott back to St Mary’s 13 years after he left for Arsenal. Everton, West Ham and Newcastle United are also keen on the England international.
But it appears that Everton are set to make the first move. The Telegraph reports that the Toffees are preparing a £20 million bid for Walcott while also matching his £110,000-a-week wage.
It is understood that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger would like to keep the 28-year-old despite failing to hand him a single Premier League start all season. But Everton manager Sam Allardyce believes a move to Goodison Park is Walcott’s best chance of forcing his way back into the England squad ahead of the World Cup; something that is likely to appeal to the 47-cap speedster.
It will be interesting to see whether news of an Everton bid will spark Walcott’s other suitors into life.
West Ham have been linked with him for a number of months now and Walcott would add extra pace and firepower to a Hammers front line that has flattered to deceive at times this season.
West Ham have been built on a solid defence since Moyes took over from Slaven Bilic, but the prospect of Walcott linking up with Marko Arnautovic, Manuel Lanzini and Michail Antonio is simply mouth-watering.
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