Chelsea plan January swoop for Arsenal’s Theo Walcott
Chelsea are planning to bid for Theo Walcott in the January transfer window while Frank Lampard is poised to leave the club as he weighs up an €8 million-a-year offer to join the highly ambitious Chinese club Guizhou.
Chelsea sent a scout to monitor Walcott’s performance for Arsenal – his first Premier League start since the opening day of the season – in the 3-3 draw at home to Fulham. Walcott’s contract expires next summer and talks over a new deal have not progressed.
Chelsea have long admired the 23 year-old and will push for a cut-price deal once the window reopens. They and can also offer him a role as a striker, which he has coveted at Arsenal without being given. Liverpool are also interested in Walcott but the England international would prefer to join a Champions League club. Arsenal would not want to sell to Chelsea but neither do they want Walcott to leave for free.