City and Liverpool eye Arsenal 'striker'

Manchester City and Liverpool will seize on Theo Walcott's plea to play up front to try to lure him away from Arsenal, reports the Sunday Mirror.

The 23-year-old winger has entered the final year of his contract, and negotiations over a new deal to stay in north London have reached a stand-off.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has told Walcott he must be patient for his chance to play as a central striker, and is unwilling to increase the club's £80,000-a-week offer.

However, long-term admirers Manchester City are ready to promise the England international a role in a rotating strike-force, that will ultimately give him more goalscoring opportunities.

Walcott could play at the Etihad Stadium in a three with Carlos Tevez and Sergio Aguero, or operate in a two with either Edin Dzeko or Mario Balotelli.

At Anfield, Walcott could comfortably play in a rotating front three with Luis Suarez and either Fabio Borini or Raheem Sterling, or alternatively play off either Suarez or Borini as a Liverpool front two.

Either way, both Brendan Rodgers and Roberto Mancini are prepared to bow to the Arsenal star's positional demands, in the hope it can push through an Emirates Stadium departure in the forthcoming January transfer window.