LONDON - Everton are challenging Southampton in the race to land Arsenal's Theo Walcott for £20million.
Arsenal may consider letting the England forward leave this month, with Walcott on the periphery of Arsene Wenger’s first-team plans.
And Everton are confident that they can beat the Saints to Walcott’s signature this month.
Everton would be able to get close to Walcott’s current deal, worth £110,000 per week, whereas Southampton’s financial limits would mean the 28-year-old would need to take pay cut to rejoin the club where he started his career.
However, if Walcott prefers not to uproot his young family from the south of England, Southampton may well find themselves in pole position to land him.
Meanwhile, Tottenham winger Georges-Kevin Nkoudou has joined Burnley on loan for the rest of the season. The 22-year-old is yet to start a league game under Mauricio Pochettino this term and Spurs see a move to Turf Moor as beneficial for him to gain first-team experience under Sean Dyche.
Chelsea defender Andreas Christensen, 21, has signed a new four-and-a-half-year contract. Meanwhile, Izzy Brown will return to Chelsea for surgery after the 21-year-old, on loan at Brighton, tore his ACL in the FA Cup tie against Crystal Palace on Monday. Also, Chelsea are willing to loan out 21-year-old Belgian forward Charly Musonda.