Arsenal transfer news: Arsene Wenger confident Theo Walcott will sign a new contract but will not be rushed into signings

With Manchester United making an early move for Memphis Depay, Wenger says Arsenal will also make signings this summer, but ensure they are 'right'

Arsenal winger Theo Walcott (Getty Images)

Arsene Wenger has revealed that contract talks with Theo Walcott remain ongoing and has stressed that the England international will not leave Arsenal in the summer despite interest coming from Premier League rivals Liverpool.

Walcott is out of contract next summer and there are fears that the 26-year0old could choose to run down his contract and leave on a free transfer in 2016 should he fail to feature in the first team regularly.

But Wenger, who signed Walcott from Southampton in 2006 when he was just 17, says that even if he doesn’t sign a contract before the end of the transfer window, he will not be leaving Arsenal.

"We are already talking to him," said Wenger, speaking at his press conference ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash against Swansea on Monday.

"When you go into negotiations with a player it is with a desire for him to stay. He looks keen to do it and I am keen to do it, so let's see what comes out.

"We are always in the mode where we want to be successful. In case of failure, we'll see.

"But in case of failure - that will only be in December next year."

Wenger also addressed the situation surrounding on-loan right-back Carl Jenkinson. The England defender is currently on a loan spell with West Ham and it is thought that the east London club will look to make the move permanent this summer, but Wenger insists that is not likely as he still has a future at the Emirates.

"I met Carl this week to speak about his future. We will sit down together at the end of the season," Wenger said.

"My target is to keep him here at the club. He had a great season for me and he has moved forward and overall he has gained a lot of confidence.

Walcott is out of contract in the summer of 2016 (Getty Images)

"The decision I have to make is do I bring him back now or does he need one more year now to play somewhere in the Premier League? That is not decided yet.

"That's what I have to decide at the end of the season. He needs experience.

"Carl is a young, very promising right-back with top quality and he had a good year where he has really moved forward. It's important that, if he comes back, he has a good chance to play."

Jenkinson will return from a loan spell with West Ham at the end of the season (Getty Images)

With a busy transfer window expected for the top clubs in the country as they look to haul in runaway champions Chelsea, Wenger is ready to make moves of his own in the transfer market. However, while Manchester United have made an early move to sign Memphis Depay from PSV Eindhoven subject to a completed medical, the Frenchman will show caution over his signings in order to ensure they are “right” for the club.

"What you want to do, more than do it early, is to do it right,” he said.

"You have to take the opportunities when they come up but that's not only decided by your desire, sometimes it's created by the club that sells the player as well.

Depay will join Manchester United in June (Getty Images)

"Fix your target, be on alert and do it when it's possible.

"I like the player [Depay] but he plays in a position where we have plenty in abundance," Wenger added.

"He plays wide and we have eight players who can play wide in two positions."