Sam Allardyce has confirmed Everton are in talks to sign Theo Walcott from Arsenal.
Walcott finds himself significantly down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium after featuring in only 49 minutes of Premier League action this season.
Allardyce is keen to bolster the Blues’ forward line in the January transfer window and has identified the ex-Southampton winger as his primary target.
Everton have already added Besiktas striker Cenk Tosun to their ranks in a £28m deal last week but have now turned their attention to negotiations for Walcott.
“You’re all aware of our interest in Theo,” said Allardyce.
“If that can all be sorted out, which is difficult, then he’d be a great addition.
“Some negotiations are going on. [The deal] is permanent, I don’t think there’s any chance of a loan.
“We’ll wait and see. I’ll be very excited and enthused, if it’s not Theo, if somebody has signed on the dotted line.
“You don’t get optimistic because so many things can happen in such a short space of time. You never get excited until someone has signed on the dotted line.
“It’s essential we trim the squad if we’re to bring more players in to adjust the balance of the squad and adjust the numbers.
“We’d be open to offers for a number of our players. We’ve had a number of enquiries but none of those enquiries have hit where our valuation might be.”
Everton are expected to pay in the region of £25 million for Walcott despite the Gunners’ reluctance to part with him after almost 11 years.