Wenger: Walcott Won’t Be Sold In January

Despite the transfer window being closed, there is always transfer gossip doing the rounds in the papers and we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest news during the coming months. Today, more on the future of Theo Walcott.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is prepared to take a £10m gamble by insisting contract rebel Theo Walcott won’t be sold this January, even if he doesn’t sign a new contract, according to the Independent.

Walcott is in the final year of his contract and has so far been unable to agree terms over a new deal, despite claiming he’s happy to stay at the Emirates. The 23-year-old is believed to be holding out for £100,000-a-week with the Gunners only offering £75,000-a-week so far while the player is also demanding more playing time up front.

The stand-off has alerted both Liverpool and Chelsea who are lining up January bids if Walcott’s future isn’t resolved by the time the transfer window re-opens but Wenger has insisted the club will not be cashing in and are prepared to risk losing him for nothing next summer.

Speaking to reporters after Arsenal’s 5-2 victory over Tottenham, Wenger had the following exchange:

Reporter: “Will you sell him [Walcott] in January if there is no agreement?”

AW: “No.”

Reporter: “So he will stay until the end of the season regardless?”

AW: “Yes.”

Reporter: “Any progress on the talks?”

AW: “If I listen to you, then every day it gets more expensive. We continue in a positive way. I told you many times we have until the end of December to sort this out.”

Wenger is quoted as saying by the Independent

Walcott insisted that he was just concentrating on his football and letting his agents deal with the contract negotiations, but reiterated that he hoped a resolution could be found.

“I’m just continuing to play my football and I’m letting Arsenal and my agents deal with all that side of the thing. I enjoy playing at this club and hopefully something can get sorted out.”

Walcott is quoted as saying by the Independent

The former Southampton ace has been in superb form of late and scored his ninth goal of the season during Saturday north London derby win over Spurs to further support his desire to play through the middle. However, Wenger was quick to point out that Walcott is a very different type of striker to Olivier Giroud and there are things the big Frenchman can do that Walcott can’t.

“I believe Theo is doing very well,” Wenger said. “He can play both positions. You have as well situations, such as today, where the goalkeeper kicks the ball out and Giroud flicks the ball on or controls it on his chest – things Theo will not be capable to do.

He is a different type of player but he can play up front, and he can play up front with Giroud as well. I think he has found a good mixture and good positional play on the wing. It makes him difficult to stop. I haven’t changed my mind on him; I’ve always said I want to keep him.

We haven’t found an agreement yet but we will continue. He certainly doesn’t play like someone who wants to go, and I don’t behave like somebody who wants him to go.”

Wenger is quoted as saying by the Independent

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