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Report: Guardiola adds Walcott to Manchester City shortlist

Tony O'Brien / Reuters

Pep Guardiola has apparently instructed Manchester City to monitor Theo Walcott's situation ahead of the Spaniard assuming control at the Etihad Stadium this summer.

Injuries and poor form appear to have curtailed the 27-year-old Walcott's career at Arsenal, and his manager, Arsene Wenger, was noncommittal when asked about the winger's future at the end of last week.

Related: Wenger admits he doesn't know what future holds for Walcott

Jesus Navas has not proved a particularly potent operator on the right flank for City, and the London Evening Standard's James Olley reports Walcott's £140,000-a-week salary would not prove a stumbling block while the club looks to boost its squad's homegrown talent.

Olley also states that Walcott has become disenchanted with his lack of opportunities to overcome his faltering outings. He hasn't played a full 90 minutes in the Premier League since Dec. 28, shortly before he passed his 10th year with the Gunners, and has been subject to some derision from the Emirates Stadium faithful.

City has been linked with fellow Arsenal and England wing wanderer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has dealt with similar fitness and form issues to Walcott, and is believed to face competition from Liverpool and archrival Manchester United for his signature.

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