Arsene Wenger has confirmed Theo Walcott is close to signing a new contract with Arsenal.
|||Arsene Wenger has confirmed Theo Walcott is close to signing a new contract with Arsenal.
The forward’s deal expires at the end of the season, meaning he can start negotiating a free transfer move to a foreign club from January.
However, talks over a four-year deal — which would include a rise on his £90,000-a-week wages — are progressing well, with both parties very confident of a successful outcome.
Sportsmail revealed last month that Arsenal were close to an agreement with Walcott after positive talks.
And Wenger revealed yesterday that a deal is imminent, saying: ‘He’s not signed the contract yet, but we are getting closer and closer and hopefully we can finalise it very soon.’
The news will provide the Gunners with a major boost ahead of the new season.
Walcott scored the only goal against German side Wolfsburg yesterday as Arsenal secured their second pre-season trophy of the summer by lifting the Emirates Cup.
The England international started the game as a centre forward — a position he is keen to fill on a regular basis. But with Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck vying for the same role, Walcott could find his chances in the position limited.
And Wenger says the forward’s versatility will help his claims for a regular starting spot.
‘What’s his best position? That’s a good question. It’s a complicated answer,’ he said.
‘In all the three positions, if you ask him where he loves to play, even he is not certain.
‘Sometimes he prefers it on the left because when he makes a good run he can score goals as well.
‘I think in his idea, he would love to play with a strong guy next to him in the middle. But we have so many offensive players it is difficult to combine all this.
‘I’ve always said he’s a goal-scorer because he has the movement, he has the timing of the finishing, the speed, he has an eye for taking his chances at the right moment.’
Meanwhile, Wenger says teenager Jeff Reine-Adelaide will not be loaned out next season.
The 17-year-old midfielder has impressed during pre-season following his arrival from Lens this summer and he set up Walcott’s winner yesterday.
Wenger said: ‘Yes, definitely (he is staying). He is 17 and he looks very promising but he needs to work with us for a year.
‘He needs to be in and out, play with the Under 21s and to develop.
‘There’s fantastic potential there and he will stay with us this season.
‘I honestly don’t know how much he will play. We had a good opportunity to watch him today. In some situations he, of course, has the game of a 17-year-old.
‘But on the other hand he has shown great potential. Physically he is very advanced and I’m sure he has learned a lot from these two days.’ – Daily Mail
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