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Championship club came ‘close’ to signing Theo Walcott but finances couldn’t be agreed

A Championship club reveal that they came ‘close’ to signing Theo Walcott earlier this summer but finances couldn’t be agreed.

Reading boss Paul Ince claimed the 33-year-old, who is currently out of favour at Premier League outfit Southampton, was keen on the move.

Walcott is yet to feature for manager Ralph Hasenhuttl this campaign, and last played in the 3-2 Saints win at Tottenham back in February 2022.

The veteran forward was not even included in the rotated matchday squad for the Carabao Cup game against Cambridge United, which saw three academy youngsters given debuts.

However, beyond the summer transfer window’s deadline day, Walcott stays on the books at St Mary’s going into the final year of his contract. Here is a video of him talking about his hopes after signing a new deal at Southampton in July 2021…

Meanwhile, the likes of Nathan Redmond leaves for Turkish side Besiktas on a permanent basis, even after the window in England had closed.

“We were close to getting a deal for Theo Walcott,” said 54-year-old Ince, speaking on Thursday.

“I spoke to him, we had a good conversation, but he had a year left at Southampton and we couldn’t make the figures work which is disappointing because the boy wanted to come. So now it’s a case of who’s out there on a free.”

Earlier in the window, Ince had hinted towards pursuing a target in mind – though chose not to name-drop Walcott.

The Royals, who also signed Shane Long earlier in the summer, have begun the Championship season strong and sit in 3rd after eight matches and 15 points to their name.

“I’d like to get a striker in, I’ve got one in mind but I’m not going to tell you yet – you’ll be quite surprised if I can get him in,” he said.

Now, any chance of Walcott moving to Reading before January would rely on the termination of his current contract at Southampton.

Reading are however nearing the re-signing of striker Andy Carroll, the Reading Chronicle understands.

The 33-year-old found the net twice in eight appearances for the Royals during a short spell last season before spending the second half of the campaign with Steve Bruce’s West Brom.

It looked as though Premier League side Wolves were after the Geordie as a replacement for target Diego Costa, the former Chelsea star’s move now in place allowing Paul Ince to swoop in and pick up the tall centre forward.

Reading Chronicle state that he is expected in training and could be ready to play after the international break.

He was in the headlines earlier in the summer after reportedly ailing a medical at Belgian outfit Club Brugge.

He has been a free agent since his release from the Baggies at the end of the last season.

Joining Shane Long as a summer arrival up top, he would become the 12th addition to the team this season as Mark Bowen and Ince try to rebuild after trouble at the end of last season, all under a transfer embargo.

WALCOTT’S CAREER

Youth career
1999–2000 – Newbury
2000 – Swindon Town
2000–2005 – Southampton

Senior career
2005–2006 – Southampton – 21 games (4 goals)
2006–2018 – Arsenal – 270 games (65 goals)
2018–2021 – Everton – 77 games (10 goals)
2020–2021 → Southampton (loan) – 20 games (3 goals)
2021– Southampton – 9 games (0 goals)

National team
2004–2005 – England U16 – 4 games (0 goals)
2005–2006 – England U17 – 14 games (5 goals)
2006 – England U19
2006–2010 – England U21 – 21 games (6 goals)
2006 – England B
2006–2016 – England – 47 games (8 goals)

Fans gave their reaction as the Championship club revealed they came ‘close’ to signing Theo Walcott but finances couldn’t be agreed…

@TomDavi8165081: Doesn’t he just get injured all the time? Or am I confusing him with someone else? 🤔. If I’m right then that’s probably why we want him, to help keep the injury list up 😂 because I guarantee he’ll just spend most of his career at RFC out injured. I like him. I hope we get him.

@Michael_BHunter: Would be a great signing 👏

@JRGingyFraud: Title charge next season

@tylerrzrl4: fuck man would’ve happily taken him

@loumball: Mad that we’ve had the likes of carrol, long, drinkwater, O’Shea, dann, hendrick and almost Walcott at the club recently. Veteran FC. #readingfc

@Jordo_Grittt: Failing to get Walcott but then going for Carroll tells me Ince is desperate for experience rather than a particular style or type. #readingfc

@PictonPedro: Surely Jordon Ibe is Paul Ince’s alternative to Walcott? Carroll is likely joining as Shane Long is frequenting the treatment room a little too often for his liking #ReadingFC

@PaulFrankfurt71: Very much this. Walcott to me was an option to give Ince a rest, playing behind strikers – I’ve would also fit. Carroll is another striking option that Ince wants. Happy with this.

@JoshRFC_: Local lad too 🙃 would’ve been nice

@jonatha086297: I think we dodged a bullet with his injury record.

@ronniemac93: Corrr imagine

@MaxHoward_15: Don’t think I’m that disappointed. Possibly slightly exciting but for how long, 10-15 games tops? Ones of saints bigger earners so can imagine he’d have wanted paying up to go and accept a lot less here on the promise of game time? I guess he’d have fit in up top? #readingfc

@CKScott__: Can’t say I’m bothered about this. He’s more injury prone than the list of injury prone players we already have. So no loss #ReadingFC

@Wallsy1871: Imagine if we got him

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