Theo Walcott ‘worried’ by Arsenal missing out on £30m Chelsea transfer

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - JUNE 20: Liam Delap #9 of Chelsea FC looks on during the FIFA Club World Cup 2025 group D match between CR Flamengo and Chelsea FC at Lincoln Financial Field on June 20, 2025 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images)
Liam Delap joined Chelsea in a £30m deal this month (Getty)

Theo Walcott admits he is ‘worried’ by Arsenal’s decision to not sign Liam Delap ahead of Chelsea this summer.

Delap impressed in his first full season in the Premier League, scoring 12 goals for Ipswich Town who were relegated from the top flight.

The 22-year-old attracted widespread interest ahead of the summer transfer window and was available due to a £30 million relegation release clause in his deal with Ipswich.

Manchester United held extensive talks to sign Delap but it was Chelsea who won the race for the former Manchester City striker earlier this month.

Arsenal, meanwhile, are also in the market for a new striker and have held talks to sign Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko.

Get personalised updates on Arsenal everyday

Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.

Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link we’ll send you so we can get football news tailored to you.

Goal scorer Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP celebrates with
Arsenal remain in the race to sign Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP (Getty)

But Walcott believes Arsenal should have been in the race with Chelsea and United to sign Delap.

‘Strikers are selfish, they just want to score goals,’ Walcott said in an interview with The Athletic.

@metrosportuk

Who’s the best choice for Arsenal up front? 🤔 The Gunners are reportedly in talks with Viktor Gyökeres AND Benjamin Šeško, and both have different qualities that could be the missing piece to Arteta’s puzzle. Charlie reckons Šeško is the better pick, and Jack thinks Gyökeres, but who would you choose between the two? #arsenal #arsenalfc #afc #arsenalnews #arsenaltransfernews #transfernews #transfers #transferupdate #transferdebate #arsenaltransfers #arsenalstriker #striker #gyokeresarsenal #seskoarsenal #gyokeres #viktorgyökeres #benjaminsesko #sesko #rbleipzig #leipzig #sportingcp #sporting #sportinglisbon #mikelarteta #arteta #kaihavertz #havertz #transferwindow #summertransferwindow #football #footballtiktok #footballnews #footballdebate #metro #metrosport #metrosportuk #premierleague #epl

♬ original sound – Metro Sport

‘But now, all of a sudden, the wingers are starting to get more selfish because they want to cut in and do their thing. They’re not connecting like they once did.

‘That’s why Delap going to Chelsea worries me as an Arsenal fan. I know they have been going for that No. 9, that Didier Drogba type, it’s that curse of the No. 9.

‘Delap can break that curse because he’s a really good striker. He’s the next one after Harry Kane for England.

‘[It] disappoints me as an Arsenal fan if you don’t go after someone like that.

‘You can see it in him as well, you can see his fight. He doesn’t care who he plays against.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on FacebookTwitter and Instagram.

(Visited 1 times, 1 visits today)

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *