Arsenal transfer news: Theo Walcott closing in on £20m Everton move as Southampton lose out
THEO WALCOTT is closing in on a £20million-plus move to Everton.
Talks are at an advanced stage to sign the Arsenal star, 28.
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Southampton had been keen on re-signing the forward after selling him to the Gunners for £12m in 2006.
But they look to have missed out with Everton nearing a deal.
Arsenal slapped a £30m pricetag on the out-of-favour striker but the Toffees' fee is understood to be closer to £20m.
Goodison chief Sam Allardyce has assured Walcott he can play where he wants if he joins.
Walcott has not started a Premier League clash this season and was used only as a 76th-minute sub in the Bournemouth defeat on Sunday.
Allardyce said: "I don’t know where I would play him until we get the deal done. When that deal’s done, I can have that conversation.
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“I see him playing anywhere across the front three — but I’m presuming if he’s not comfortable with that, then he will tell us and it won’t happen. That’s if we can get that far.
“I hope we can do it in the next week or two because I think we are still waiting for catch-up on Yannick Bolasie and James McCarthy.
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“They have both been out more than 12 months, so they aren’t quite as good as we know they can be — but they will get better."
Arsenal are in the market for an Alexis Sanchez replacement once he leaves the club, with Manchester United and Chelsea now leading the chase.
Bordeaux winger Malcom, 20, is reportedly in talks to join while Henrikh Mkhitaryan, 28, arriving in a player-plus-cash swap deal for Sanchez is another option.
Walcott's fee will help cover any transfers.
Allardyce has already signed Turkish forward Cenk Tosun from Besiktas for £27m.
But Big Sam wants more new faces to ensure Premier League survival.
He said: "A manager would say you would always need more. It depends where we want to go in this window.
“We’re trying to finish in the top half and fill areas.
“Certainly the goalscoring area has been lacking all season. So we tried to put that right by investing in Cenk.
“We need to give him a little bit more time to settle but, hopefully, it will be sooner rather than later that he starts scoring.”