Latest rumours out of the London media suggest that Saints are willing to sell Virgil Van Dijk to Arsenal but only if Theo Walcott is part of the deal.

Saints are reported to have told Arsenal they will do a deal with them for Virgil Van Dijk, but only if Theo Walcott is part of the deal.

The problem with that though is the wages that Walcott is on, he is halfway through a four year deal said to be worth around £140,000 a week and that being the case would be loathe to take a massive drop to the type of salary Saints would offer.

However he does have to balance that with the fact that he is out of the picture at Arsenal this season and that if he did see out his contract he would be unlikely to be able to get anywhere near his current wages in two years time.

So that could offer hope to Saints that he might be willing to negotiate in order to try and kickstart a career that as he approaches 29 has not really reached the heights that were being predicted when he broke into the Saints first team in 2005.

So he may be willing to sacrifice a bit of cash to try and get a final tilt at becoming the player he should really have been and it looks like he will never now achieve at Arsenal.

Photo: Action Images

1970 added 11:41 - Aug 29 the only player I would welcome back is lambert (if he had a few years in him) and of course Bale the rest can F*** o** back to marbella
3

lovemachine added 11:43 - Aug 29 Absolute non story, he will never come back and we cant afford the wages!! Nonsense
2

Sanguin added 12:00 - Aug 29 I've got a soft spot for Theo but why would we want to sign another flashy midfielder who can't score goals?
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sambat added 12:19 - Aug 29 Why would we want Theo back? He is well past his prime, and not worth the wages. We could do better. Interesting time for VVD. We should put a price tag of £100m on him and sell him to whoever will pay. If he does go, we made a lot of money to re-invest in the club. If he doesn't go, he needs to publicly apologise to the club and fans and get on with the job he signed up for.

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landerwal added 12:35 - Aug 29 Well said Sanguin. We do need any more flashy midfielders who don't score goals, we've got plenty those already.
2

BuyEastleighFC4aBtea added 12:39 - Aug 29 It truely is odd how The ugly inside continuely links it's self with these, he said she said articles instead of supporting the stance of club and fans like help push this great club of ours forward. I am one am fed up of reading this nonsense. Why we are not focus on buying Eastleigh FC and developing it into a league one club so we can use it to delvelop the Saint team of 2022 I am fed up us bring players thoroughbred academy only to see them sold before they reach 20 years old. This is not forward planning! The top six keep picking players off one by one. We need a long term and on going plan of action and that's squad development not player development! The benefits will be massive. Having a group of players who friends and believe and each other. Only will win silverware and change history.

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SanMarco added 12:54 - Aug 29 I don't believe this story and I echo the comments re the barn door missing midfielders. My understanding is that Saints are making a point over (and to) VVD - selling him to Arsenal and getting a player we don't need in exchange doesn't make much of a point to me...
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Abbosaint added 14:09 - Aug 29 I thought VVD wanted Champions League football so why would he want to sign for Arsenal? They must be well down on his list of 'top clubs' he would be willing to join even if Saints renege on their stated intention that they will not sell him in this transfer window
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DPeps added 14:13 - Aug 29 Not going to happen
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SaintJez added 14:49 - Aug 29 3 problems with Theo. 1. Wages 2. He wasn't that good for us first time around and only shone 1 in 5 games for Arsenal 3. How much will Arsenal value him at as part of an "exchange"? My guess on the latter will be eye wateringly high and so we'd give up a lot of the VVD proceeds bringing him back. There must be better prospects out on the market somewhere. We do need more quality in those positions though. Anyone watching Tadic, Redmond and Long in the past year can see that. I'm just not sure it's Theo. And please sort out the VVD situation! Either sell to the highest bidder or put him back into first team training and the team. This no mans land helps no-one.

1

sambat added 15:21 - Aug 29 We would probably finish above Arsenal anyway, they don't look much at present
2

SaintBrock added 15:52 - Aug 29 Tosh!
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Horndeansaint added 16:18 - Aug 29 Saint Jez, which highest bidder of the none that have bid so far were you thinking of?
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saintpete01 added 16:23 - Aug 29 WE HAVE Enough SANDANCERS ON THE BOOKS ALREADY!!
1

smiffdub added 16:37 - Aug 29 I agree with most comments, that this won't happen. And maybe our fans don't want him, but he is exactly the kind of player we still need. And to say he can't score goals is just silly. He got 19 in 37 games fro Arsenal last year....think about it...that's 2 goals more than Tadic, Redmond, Boufal, Ward-Prowse and Davis all COMBINED. He's scored at a rate of about 1 in 4 games over his career with Arsenal. Our blokes think they've earned their mega-salaries if they make one shot attempt every 4 games!

2

mattthelegend added 16:40 - Aug 29 £50 million plus Sakho, I would be happy with that and would reduce the amount we pay Celtic in sell on clause 20%.
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SaintJez added 17:45 - Aug 29 @Horndeansaint - you don't think there'll be bidders for Van Dijk?
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mikesaint added 20:06 - Aug 29 £70 million plus Sakho sounds better to me.
2

mattthelegend added 21:48 - Aug 29 Yes mikesaint it does, would gladly take that as well.
0

Ali_Diarea added 22:23 - Aug 29 What's a 'Sandancer' Pete??!
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sambat added 22:36 - Aug 29 Oddly enough, I agree with the comment above concerning buying Eastleigh and use it as a development club. Some of our players are out playing for and benefiting other clubs. When they are successful they get picked off at an early age. At least this way they would have longer to turn into the polished article. It would be a lot easier to bring these lads back into St Mary's, and by the look of things Olomola should have at least a couple of games in the senior squad to see how he fits. Let's face it, he can't do a lot worse than our strikers at present. I am surprised Gallagher has gone on loan. And one big plus, imagine Eastleigh beating the Skates!

1

saintpete01 added 22:39 - Aug 29 ALI BEATS ONE BEATS TWO BEATS HIMSELF LOOSES THE BALL!!!
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saintpete01 added 22:49 - Aug 29 Sandancer LOOKING Good GOING NOWHERE
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Ali_Diarea added 23:01 - Aug 29 Haha we've had a few of them over the years!
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truthfulsaint added 00:57 - Aug 30 You people criticizing Walcott do not understand football. I bet you are the same bunch who critisized Yoshida and Lallana. These players all share the same psychological weakness. They need to feel the position is theirs. They need to relax and play regularly. Walcott being subbed every week is what held him back. Give him confidence and a regular slot and he'll shine just like Yoshida

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