Arsenal have opened formal talks to sign Klaas-Jan Huntelaar next month with the Holland striker set to enter the last six months of his contract at Schalke.

The forward, 29, is demanding about £100,000 a week in wages and a three-year contract to move to Arsenal, against whom he scored twice to help his side to finish top of group B in the Champions League this season. The German club are asking about £6 million for the striker, who scored 29 goals in 32 league games last season and has been watched by Tottenham Hotspur in the past.

Theo Walcott started in attack in the 5-2 victory away to Reading on Monday, which lifted the team to fifth place, two points behind Tottenham. Walcott is