Arsenal news: Southampton ready to use Virgil van Dijk cash to bring Theo Walcott back to the club
Boss Mauricio Pellegrino wants to rebuild his squad in January with the £75m they received from Liverpool for the centre-back
SOUTHAMPTON want Theo Walcott back — 12 years after he became their youngest player.
Walcott, 28, is desperate to quit Arsenal next month to boost his faint hopes of a spot in England’s World Cup squad.
Saints were reluctant to smash their pay structure by matching the £110,000 a week that the winger trousers at the Emirates.
But they now have money to spend following Virgil van Dijk’s £75million move to Liverpool and are happy to go for a loan or permanent move.
Walcott began his career at Saints after coming through the Hampshire side’s highly-acclaimed youth academy and played his first game aged 16 years, 143 days.
The Three Lions ace scored four goals in 21 league games before joining Arsenal in a £12m deal in 2006.
Walcott’s wife Melanie still has family living on the south coast and he is understood to be open to a return after falling out of favour at the Emirates.
Saints are also among a queue of Premier League clubs tracking Celtic hotshot Moussa Dembele.
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Frenchman Dembele, 21, is set to leave Parkhead in the transfer window after netting 40 goals in 18 months.
But Celtic, who will net £6m from the sale of their former defender Van Dijk, are demanding £21m for the striker.
His wages are also a stumbling block as he currently pockets a staggering £140,000 at Arsenal.
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Saints are ready to reinvest the bulk of the Van Dijk money but are wary about selling clubs inflating prices.