Arsenal offered Theo Walcott a new £50,000-a-week contract
yesterday.
The Mirror says Walcott, currently injured after
surgery on a dislocated shoulder, has 18 months left on his current
contract and had been waiting on Arsenal to open negotiations on a
new deal.
But the 19-year-old star's representatives met with Arsenal
chief executive Ivan Gazidis yesterday and the Gunners are ready to
present Walcott with a double-your-money offer that will net the
star £13million over five years.
Arsenal are confident they can persuade him to pledge his
long-term future to the club. Real Madrid and Manchester City are
hovering but Walcott, who joined Arsenal for £10m in 2006, will
stay on if the deal is right.