Liverpool Transfer News: Theo Walcott Swoop Planned, Latest Reds Rumours

Theo Walcott is reportedly set to leave Arsenal this summer, with Liverpool linked with a move for the England international forward.

According to Mike McGrath of the Sun, the 27-year-old is unhappy being a peripheral figure in the side, having started just one game since January. 

Luke Gardener of the Daily Star has noted Liverpool are “known admirers” of Walcott and could swoop with manager Jurgen Klopp looking to rebuild his squad in the summer window. 

Walcott has three years left on his current contract so a considerable bid would be needed for Arsenal to consider letting him leave,” added Gardener.

Bleacher Report’s Dean Jones noted earlier this month that Walcott is considering his future and is likely to move if he misses out on the England squad for Euro 2016:

With so many English forwards thriving this term, it would be a big surprise if the Arsenal man did make it into Roy Hodgson’s squad. But this is a scenario that has been a long time coming for a player who is gradually falling down the pecking order at club level.

Walcott can be a devastating player at his best and showed signs of shining in the No. 9 role earlier this term. However, throughout his career, he’s proved to be too inconsistent and too injury prone for a club like Arsenal. The form of players like Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey has made it very tough for him to get in the team, too.

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As football journalist Seb Stafford-Bloor noted lately, not only is Walcott not doing enough to put pressure on regular first team players at Arsenal, emerging stars are surpassing him, too:

A summer move would be the best for both parties, you suspect, and Liverpool is a club Walcott would surely love to join.

Whether Liverpool would love to have him is a different matter entirely, though. Under Klopp the Reds are moving forward quickly and will surely flex their muscles in the summer window. Walcott, at this juncture, doesn’t seem to have the attributes to improve the starting XI at Anfield and may find himself in a similar situation to the one he’s currently in at the Emirates Stadium.

Watford Close in on Jerome Sinclair

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Jerome Sinclair will leave Liverpool this summer for a fee of £2 million, with Watford set to best Crystal Palace and West Bromwich Albion for his signature.

That’s according to Darren Witcoop of the Sunday Mirror, who suggested the teenager has a agreed a three-year deal in principle with the Hornets after deciding not to sign a deal with the Reds. Witcoop stated a compensation fee for the player will be decided by a tribunal panel.

Sinclair is a striker who has had many excited on Merseyside for a while now after some strong showings in the club’s youth setup.

Bleacher Report’s Jack Lusby suggested one of the reasons why the Reds aren’t too fussed about seeing Sinclair move on is because there’s plenty of talent to get excited about in the academy:

Nevertheless, the 19-year-old is clearly a prospect. Sinclair possesses raw pace, brilliant balance and ability to score different types of goals. Having nurtured his skills and helped him grow as a footballer, the Reds will be disappointed to see him go, with the youngster clearly feeling he’d be better off continuing his development elsewhere.

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Watford are a club who have established themselves in the Premier League this term and have a fine manager in Quique Sanchez Flores. They’ll be more likely to offer Sinclair first team football, too. But the future at Anfield looks extremely bright under Klopp, and you expect the decision not to be part of that is one the forward may come to regret.