Arsenal have reportedly failed to reach an agreement with England winger Theo Walcott over a contract extension.
The 23-year-old, whose contract expires in 2013, is said to want to stay and is willing to continue negotiations. However, various newspaper reports claim Arsenal will sell him before Friday's transfer deadline unless he signs an improved five-year deal worth ?75,000 a week. Walcott joined Arsenal from Southampton as a 16-year-old in 2006. He started the home draw with Sunderland on the opening day of the season but was left on the bench for Sunday's draw at Stoke, eventually coming on after 72 minutes in the Gunners' second straight 0-0 draw. Walcott's departure would come as a blow to the Gunners after he scored 11 goals last season and was one of the main suppliers of Robin van Persie's 37 goals. However he has often been criticised for a lack of consistency and at both club and international level and Arsenal colleague Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was preferred by England manager Roy Hodgson at Euro 2012. If Walcott does leave he would join an ever-increasing list of high-profile players to depart the Emirates a year before their contracts expired. Earlier this month Van Persie joined Manchester United for a deal thought to be around ?24million, while Gael Clichy and Samir Nasri moved to Manchester City last summer and midfielders Cesc Fabregas and Alex Song have both joined Barcelona in the last year.
Source: team talk
Source: team talk