Benitez Looking At Arsenal Star As Possible Striker Target - Report

Arsenal could face a renewed fight to keep hold of Theo Walcott this summer, according to reports, with the winger-turned-striker believed to be a target for Napoli.

Walcott delayed signing a new contract with the Gunners until January this year, waiting until he was within the last six months of his deal with the club to put pen to paper after struggling to agree with Arsene Wenger on personal terms.

Walcott was believed to be asking for higher wages, as well as a guarantee that he would be played as a striker, although Wenger has denied that this was the case.

But now Tuttosport claims that the striker could still leave Arsenal in the summer for greener pastures.

While Walcott committed his future to the club, he has bore witness to numerous top players leaving north London and winning trophies in their first season away from Arsenal while they go eight campaigns now without silverware.

And the Italian paper is reporting that Rafa Benitez, who is now setting his transfer targets at Napoli, wants to bring Walcott in for around £23m.

Napoli club president Aurelio De Laurentiis recently conducted an interview with local radio station Radio Marte, and said: "We require another right sided second striker.

"We are closing in on someone in this area, but I can't say anything more in order to avoid the asking price going up."

Napoli look set to lose a striker in Edinson Cavani to Chelsea, which will give them a serious cash injection to spend big in the summer.

They will have to compete with Serie A rivals Juventus, who are also on the lookout for attacking players this summer. But if Benitez is hoping to tempt Wenger into selling Walcott, he will likely need to up his initial bid to even test the Frenchman's resolve on a player he has continually said will be a future star for Arsenal.