Arsenal hope Theo Walcott will sign a new deal within a week to allow them to focus on bringing in new players during this month’s transfer window.
Walcott is close to agreeing a new five-year contract with the club worth about £90,000 a week, a significant increase on the original offer of £75,000 that was made last summer.
Unless there are any late hitches, Walcott could commit himself to Arsenal before they face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge next week. The England international wanted a better salary but also sought reassurances that he would be played as a central striker more regularly.
Manager Arsene Wenger has said consistently that securing the future of Walcott was more important than improving the quality of his squad but, with a deal for the 23-year-old now imminent, he and the club hierarchy hope to be able to concentrate fully on recruitment.
Wenger is thought to be keen to strengthen in central midfield where, with Abou Diaby making his way back to full fitness after more than three months out with a thigh injury, there is considerable strain on Mikel Arteta and Jack Wilshere.
With City and Chelsea on the horizon next week, either side of an FA Cup third-round replay against Swansea, Arsenal’s schedule is tough. The following week, Wenger’s side face West Ham and a possible FA Cup fourth-round tie at Brighton, before they host Liverpool on January 30.
Wenger is also looking at West Ham midfielder Mohamed Diame, who has a low release clause, and James McCarthy, of Wigan. Montpellier’s Younes Belhanda is another player on Arsenal’s radar and Tottenham have also shown an interest in him. The 22-year-old playmaker is out of contract next June and is unlikely to sign a new one with the French champions.
Meanwhile, Gervinho, who has been called up to the Ivory Coast squad for the Africa Cup of Nations, is determined to make up for last year, when he missed a penalty in the final shoot-out against Zambia.
He said: “This time I will score the winner to offer the trophy to Ivory Coast.”
