Arsenal transfer news: Theo Walcott to end speculation over Liverpool move as he prepares to sign new contract

Walcott has 12 months to run on his contract but looks set to sign a new deal

Walcott scored Arsenal's first goal against Aston Villa (Getty Images)

Theo Walcott is ready to commit his future to Arsenal after drawn out contract negotiations edged towards a completion.

The England international is about to enter the final 12 months of his current deal, which fuelled speculation that he will leave the club that bought him in in 2006. Liverpool appeared to be leading the race for Walcott should he choose to leave the Gunners and Arsenal cash in rather than lose him on a free transfer next summer.

But after being given a rare start through the middle for Arsenal on the final day of the Premier League season, Walcott delivered a brilliant first-half hat-trick against West Brom and was preferred to Olivier Giroud for the FA Cup final where he netted the opening goal.

Manager Arsene Wenger has always maintained that Walcott can play through the middle although has rarely given the 26-year-old a prolonged run in the striker role, but those two appearances at the end of the season appear to have convinced Walcott that he has a future at the Emirates Stadium after The Sun reported he is ready to sign a new contract.

The report goes on to suggest that Walcott will put pen to paper on a new deal before the transfer window opens at the end of the month, and will allow Wenger and the Arsenal hierarchy to concentrate on bringing players in rather than stressing over who could potentially leave the club if they don’t tie down their future.

Theo Walcott could start for England against Slovenia (Getty Images)

In a further boost for Walcott, he is also set to start for England in their Euro 2016 qualifier against Slovenia on Sunday at the Stozice Stadium in Ljublana, where Roy Hodgson’s side will be looking to extend their six-point lead over the Slovenians and Switzerland at the top of Group E.