Arsenal

Fergie Rules Out Buying In January – Chelsea Now Favourites To Land Walcott?

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out buying Theo Walcott or anybody else in January. Does this make Chelsea the new favourites to sign him?

by
Football Talk
December 16, 2012

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, United won’t be buying Theo Walcott next month.

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has ruled out buying Theo Walcott, or anybody else, in January, according to the Daily Mail.

United maintained their six-point advantage over rivals Manchester City with a 3-1 win over Sunderland on Saturday and have got several players back from injury in recent weeks. Nemanja Vidic was the latest to return after the Serbian defender came on as a second half sub at the weekend, bringing to an end a lengthy spell on the sidelines.

Sir Alex Ferguson isn’t known for his forays into the January market but the Telegraph were one of several media outlets who claimed last week that the United boss had joined Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City in the race for Arsenal’s contract rebel Theo Walcott and suggested he could be ready to make a move when the transfer window re-opens next month.

However, Fergie has now ruled out that possibility by insisting he won’t be adding to his squad in January, telling the Daily Mail:

‘I will not be bringing anybody in, in January – definitely not,’

With just 6 months left to run on his current contract at the Emirates, Walcott’s Arsenal future is in serious doubt and there have been no indications to suggest he’ll be signing an extension any time soon.

With United seemingly ruling themselves out of a move in January, if Arsenal do decide to cash in next month, the Mail claim the 23-year-old is now likely to move to Stamford Bridge.

While he may still sign a new deal with the Gunners, I feel a move to Chelsea would make sense if he does leave, mainly because it would enable Walcott to remain in London – where his girlfriend attends university. The main problem may be getting regular first team football. He’d be battling with the likes of Eden Hazard, Juan Mata, Oscar and Victor Moses for a starting spot but with the lack of strikers at the Bridge, he may get more opportunities in his preferred central position.

It’s going to be an interesting few weeks ahead for Walcott. Do you think he’ll sign a new deal with Arsenal? If he leaves, where do you think he’ll go? Get involved in the comments section below.