EXCLUSIVE

Manchester City have added Arsenal forward Theo Walcott to their list of potential summer signings.

Incoming manager Pep Guardiola is a keen admirer of the 27-year-old and Standard Sport understands he has asked City to monitor Walcott’s situation closely as he faces a crossroads in his career at Emirates Stadium.

Walcott would find it very difficult to leave the Gunners having joined the club aged 16 and is not thought to be openly agitating for a move at this stage.

However, he is one of a number of players who has become increasing baffled by his treatment from manager Arsene Wenger in recent weeks as the team’s form has dipped alarmingly.

Arsenal have won just three of their last nine Premier League games as the title has slipped from their grasp but as one of the squad’s senior players, Walcott has been given precious little opportunity to arrest the decline; he last started a League game on February 28.

Walcott has disappointed in a series of cameo appearances from the bench and found himself the target of fierce fan criticism on social media, while there was a smattering of boos when introduced as a substitute during last week’s 2-0 win over West Brom.

That loss of form has led to serious doubts over whether he will be included in England’s Euro 2016 squad.

In Pictures | Theo Walcott's 12 years at Arsenal 13 show all In Pictures | Theo Walcott's 12 years at Arsenal 1/13 Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger and new signing Theo Walcott, 16, pose for the media at the Arsenal training ground on January 20, 2006 Getty Images 2/13 Gilberto (C) of Arsenal celebrates with team mates Theo Walcott (R) and Kolo Toure (L) after scoring the equalising goal during the Barclays Premiership match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at The Emirates Stadium on August 19, 2006 Getty Images 3/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal scores is second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Birmingham City and Arsenal at St Andrews on February 23, 2008 Getty Images 4/13 Danijel Pranjic of Croatia is unable to stop Theo Walcott of England scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Group Six match between Croatia and England at the Maksimir Stadium on September 10, 2008 in Zagreb Getty Images 5/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal shoots past Gerard Pique of Barcelona to score a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium on March 31, 2010 Getty Images 6/13 Arsenal's English striker Theo Walcott celebrates after scoring a third goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Blackpool at the Emirates Stadium in London, England on August 21, 2010 AFP/Getty Images 7/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal celebrates scoring Arsenal's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on October 29, 2011 Getty Images 8/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal scores the first goal past Tim Krul of Newcastle United during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on December 29, 2012 Getty Images 9/13 Theo Walcott scores his and Arsenal's 2nd goal past Adrian of West ham the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at Boleyn Ground on December 26, 2013 Getty Images 10/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal celebrates as he scores their first goal during the FA Cup Final between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on May 30, 2015 Getty Images 11/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal is tackled by Chris Smalling of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on October 4, 2015 12/13 Theo Walcott celebrates scoring his 100th Arsenal goal with (L) Granit Xhaka, (2ndL) Gabriel and (R) Alex Iwobi during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Sutton United and Arsenal on February 20, 2017 in Sutton, Greater London. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 13/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Bournemouth, which would be his final game at the club. Getty Images 1/13 Arsenal Manager Arsene Wenger and new signing Theo Walcott, 16, pose for the media at the Arsenal training ground on January 20, 2006 Getty Images 2/13 Gilberto (C) of Arsenal celebrates with team mates Theo Walcott (R) and Kolo Toure (L) after scoring the equalising goal during the Barclays Premiership match between Arsenal and Aston Villa at The Emirates Stadium on August 19, 2006 Getty Images 3/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal scores is second goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Birmingham City and Arsenal at St Andrews on February 23, 2008 Getty Images 4/13 Danijel Pranjic of Croatia is unable to stop Theo Walcott of England scoring his team's second goal during the FIFA 2010 World Cup Qualifying Group Six match between Croatia and England at the Maksimir Stadium on September 10, 2008 in Zagreb Getty Images 5/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal shoots past Gerard Pique of Barcelona to score a goal during the UEFA Champions League quarter final first leg match between Arsenal and FC Barcelona at the Emirates Stadium on March 31, 2010 Getty Images 6/13 Arsenal's English striker Theo Walcott celebrates after scoring a third goal during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Blackpool at the Emirates Stadium in London, England on August 21, 2010 AFP/Getty Images 7/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal celebrates scoring Arsenal's third goal during the Barclays Premier League match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge on October 29, 2011 Getty Images 8/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal scores the first goal past Tim Krul of Newcastle United during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates Stadium on December 29, 2012 Getty Images 9/13 Theo Walcott scores his and Arsenal's 2nd goal past Adrian of West ham the Barclays Premier League match between West Ham United and Arsenal at Boleyn Ground on December 26, 2013 Getty Images 10/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal celebrates as he scores their first goal during the FA Cup Final between Aston Villa and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on May 30, 2015 Getty Images 11/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal is tackled by Chris Smalling of Manchester United during the Barclays Premier League match between Arsenal and Manchester United at Emirates Stadium on October 4, 2015 12/13 Theo Walcott celebrates scoring his 100th Arsenal goal with (L) Granit Xhaka, (2ndL) Gabriel and (R) Alex Iwobi during the Emirates FA Cup Fifth Round match between Sutton United and Arsenal on February 20, 2017 in Sutton, Greater London. Arsenal FC via Getty Images 13/13 Theo Walcott of Arsenal arrives at the stadium prior to the Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Arsenal at Vitality Stadium on January 14, 2018 in Bournemouth, which would be his final game at the club. Getty Images

Roy Hodgson has listed Walcott as a forward in previous get-togethers but he faces a tough fight even if five strikers are selected given the credentials of Harry Kane, Wayne Rooney, Jamie Vardy, Daniel Sturridge and his Arsenal team-mate Danny Welbeck.

Should Walcott miss out, his future would be even more uncertain. It is believed that talks are planned at the end of the season over his ongoing role at the club but Arsenal are in a strong position given he signed a four-year extension last summer, tying him to the club until 2019.

City would not find his £140,000-a-week wage prohibitive and are keen to bolster the number of English players in the squad as they attempt to meet Uefa regulations regarding homegrown talent.

Gunners midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is also under consideration for this reason although it is understood that Guardiola has been a fan of Walcott’s for much longer, dating back to his blistering game-changing appearance for Arsenal against the Spaniard’s Barcelona side in 2010.

Barca were leading 2-0 when Walcott came on during the second half but he scored Arsenal’s first goal and terrorised full-back Maxwell before Cesc Fabregas equalised with a late penalty.

The popular criticism of Walcott is that he has failed to train on significantly since those days but Guardiola remains keen, while Liverpool have also been mooted as a possible destination should Arsenal indicate a willingness to sell.