Arsenal ready to swap Walcott for Liverpool's Sterling

Arsenal are determined to keep contract rebel Theo Walcott but the winger could find the call of Liverpool hard to resist.

Kop boss Brendan Rodgers has made no secret of the fact that he wants Walcott to replenish their attack which has been heavily dependent on Luis Suarez.

Apart from the talks breaking down because of Walcott's £90,000 a week wage demand, the player is unhappy at not being given a central role in attack with Arsene Wenger playing Olivier Giroud as the lone striker.

Wenger is confident Walcott will stay put at the Emirates Stadium after he played a starring role in Arsenal's 5-2 thumping of Spurs in the North London derby on Saturday.

"I believe he is doing very well," said Wenger.

"I haven't changed my mind on him. I always said I wanted to keep him. We try to find an agreement. We haven't found it yet. But he doesn't play like someone who wants to leave and I don't behave like someone who wants him to go."

Walcott is also not letting any speculation distract him.

"I'm just continuing to play my football and I'm letting Arsenal and my agents deal with all that side of the thing," he said.

"I enjoy playing at this club, like I said before, and hopefully something can get sorted out."

But Wenger is preparing for the worst-case scenario lining up a swap deal for Liverpool striker Raheem Sterling in case Walcott fails to come to an agreement.

The Arsenal boss is a huge admirer of rising England star Sterling and, according to The Sun, is prepared to offload Walcott plus £8million in his bid to sign the Liverpool winger in January.

Earlier this month, Sterling added to the uncertainty over his Liverpool future by withdrawing a tweet that was meant to reassure Anfield fans.

Sterling, who became the country's third youngest international in 100 years after making his debut against Sweden on Wednesday night, sent out mixed messages on Twitter by claiming he was going to sign a new deal on his 18th birthday next month - then removing the message.

It followed claims that his advisers were asking Liverpool for £50,000 a week.

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