Man Utd & Liverpool Eye Audacious Swoop For Gunners Star

The January transfer window is now closed but that won’t stop the newspapers from speculating ahead of the summer so we’ll bring you all the news and gossip. Today, Arsenal are braced for interest in Theo Walcott from Liverpool and Manchester United….

Liverpool and Manchester United are eyeing a swoop on Arsenal for Theo Walcott this summer as doubts continue over the attackers future at the Emirates, according to reports.

Walcott’s contract is set to enter it’s final year at the end of the season and the attacker plunged his future into fresh doubt yesterday after claiming on Twitter that talks over a new deal haven’t even started yet.

The 26-year-old was also forced to deny rumours of a bust-up with boss Arsene Wenger at the training ground recently. He tweeted:

‘I don’t normally comment on false stories about myself but reports about contract demands & bust-ups with the boss are complete nonsense.

‘There have been no contract talks as yet and my current focus is not on contracts but on doing my best for Arsenal FC.’

These claims are in direct contrast to what Wenger said earlier this month with the Gunners boss telling reporters that initial talks had been opened with Walcott’s camp and he was hopeful of coming to an agreement to keep him at the club.

‘The first contacts have been established with the embassy. We will see how that (negotiations) progresses politically.

‘Walcott was difficult to convince (in 2013) and that is why it took us much time.

‘We have started very early with him, but it was slow progress – he is very quick on the pitch, but off the pitch not always.’

‘I always wanted to keep him and I still want to keep him now.’

‘I want him to stay and be a regular player and fight for his place, but no matter where you go if it is a big club you have to compete for your place.’ Wenger is quoted as saying by the Mail

Walcott has struggled to regain his first team place at Arsenal since returning from a long-term injury in January with the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Danny Welbeck all ahead of him in the pecking order.

The promise of guaranteed first team football is believed to be a key factor in Walcott’s decision over whether to extend his contract at the Emirates but it remains to be seen whether Wenger will be able to give him the assurances he wants.

Understandably there is going to be plenty of interest in the pacey attackers services and the Mirror claim that Liverpool and Manchester United are among the clubs keeping a close eye on the players situation.

Should Walcott fail to pen a new deal by the summer then the duo are poised to make an audacious swoop on Arsenal which could see another one of their first team players join a direct rival.

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We’ll have to see how things develop over the coming weeks but if Theo continues to be on the fringes of the Arsenal first eleven then I don’t see an extension being agreed any time soon and that could open the door to a cut-price move to the likes of Man Utd or Liverpool.