Arsenal Transfer News: Theo Walcott Negotiations Start, Ayoze Perez Rumours

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed he isn't looking forward to contract negotiations with winger Theo Walcott, revealing the first steps have been made to ensure the England international doesn't leave the club on a transfer.

As reported by the Daily Mirror's Adrian Kajumba, the Frenchman remembers the last time the two parties sat around the table, and he fears a similar scenario:

"

The first contacts have been established with the embassy! We will see how that progresses politically.

Walcott was difficult to convince (last time) and that’s why it took us much time.

We started very early with him but it was slow progress. He is very quick on the pitch but off the pitch not always

I want him to stay and be a regular player and fight for his place but no matter where you go if it is a big club you have to compete for your place.

"

The 26-year-old's contract will be up in 2016, and after a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to injury, Walcott is reportedly stalling to sign a new deal due to fears he won't be playing regular minutes.

Indeed, The Telegraph's Jonathan Liew suggests the longtime Gunner should fear for his spot in the starting XI:

Injuries are part of the game, and it certainly isn't Walcott's fault he missed so much time in the past year. But Arsenal have since invested in Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck, while Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has also emerged as a player deserving of minutes out wide.

Walcott held off on signing a deal for months back in the 2012-13 season, finally putting pen to paper in January. At the time, the forward held all of the bargaining chips—things are different this time around. Walcott is still fighting to get back to form, and former Gunner Martin Keown thinks he should take that into account, per talkSPORT:

There's no denying Arsenal could use additional funds to invest in several key areas of weakness, and Bleacher Report's James McNicholas used the hypothetical sale of midfielder Mesut Ozil as an example to highlight where the Gunners could improve using that transfer fee:

But Walcott isn't Ozil, and due to his long time away from the game, any sale likely wouldn't net the kind of fee Wenger would want for his services. As of right now, Walcott provides far more value to the club as a player, rather than a transfer chip.

Negotiations may be just as difficult as last time around, but expect the England international to remain with Arsenal when all is said and done.

Speculation surrounding the future of Newcastle United forward Ayoze Perez continues to rise, and as shared by The Sun, even the Magpies are admitting there is significant interest in his services from other clubs:

The Gunners and Manchester United are specifically mentioned as potential landing spots by Metro's Lewis Rudd, who reports both could test Newcastle's resolve to keep hold of the 21-year-old during the summer.

Perez has been used all over the attacking third and continues to flash bags of potential, even if the production hasn't always followed. He's still very much a developing player and could be worth a gamble at the end of the current campaign.

But as shared by The Chronicle's Mark Douglas, the Spaniard is determined to shine for his current club and believes St. James' Park is the perfect environment for him right now:

It's hard to argue with such a sentiment. Perez is playing consistent minutes for a good Premier League outfit, and he'd likely be a bench player at the Emirates and Old Trafford at this stage of his career.

Newcastle give him the chance to grow, and if he continues developing at his current pace, those offers from Arsenal and United will surely return at the end of next season.

The Gunners may choose to let him do his thing with the Magpies and revisit their interest at a later date, when he looks more ready to be an immediate contributor.

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