Liverpool have already made an inquiry for Walcott while Manchester City have asked to be kept informed of developments and are expected to make their move later this week. Formal negotiations between Walcott’s representatives and Arsenal were held last Friday at the club’s London Colney training base, and despite further communication on Tuesday, a proposed new contract worth £75,000 a week remains unsigned. Walcott had wanted closer to £100,000 a week to move into a similar pay bracket as his fellow England internationals but Arsenal’s attitude is that the offer represents a fair improvement on his current £60,000-a-week deal. The club do not intend to make an improved offer and, if Walcott does not change his mind, they are willing to sell to the highest bidder. Wenger has already said this summer that he does not want to keep players who allow their contracts to run into their final year and he will not sanction a salary offer that he regards as inflated. There is still hope at Arsenal that Walcott will sign a new contract but, if there is no agreement over the next 48 hours, Wenger is relaxed about sanctioning his sale. With Walcott into the final year of his contract, Arsenal would consider offers starting from £11 million. The Telegraph first revealed in February that Walcott was playing for his future following six mixed years at Arsenal. From Walcott’s perspective, as well as disappointment at the financial package on offer, there has been concern at Arsenal’s direction and the repeated sale of key players, notably Robin van Persie. Walcott forged a particularly close bond last year with Van Persie and also produced arguably his best season for Arsenal, with 11 goals and 13 assists. The only club to have registered any formal interest in Walcott this summer are Liverpool. Manchester City, though, have asked to be kept abreast of developments. City’s potential £6.2 million move for Scott Sinclair is on hold, but Roberto Mancini is keen to add pace and width to his attacking options. Although there would be question-marks about Walcott’s ability to break into the City first team, it is clear that he would offer a rather different option to Mancini than some of the more technical — but slower — midfielders currently at his disposition.[Read More]
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