Arsenal eye teenager Walcott

Arsenal plan to sign Theo Walcott, the Southampton teenager rated as the finest English prospect since Wayne Rooney.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday he was prepared to wait if second division Southampton wanted to keep the pacy 16-year-old forward until the end of the season.

"He's a player we rate. I rate him personally and we are looking at him, yes," Wenger told a news conference.

Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe said he has not agreed to sell Walcott and believed the youngster should stay.

"We do not think it would be right for Theo to leave Southampton," Lowe said on the south coast club's website.

"There have been plenty of enquiries about him but we have not received any formal offer and we have not agreed any deal to sell him."

Wenger said he is pleased to hear that Walcott wanted to go to Arsenal if he left Southampton.

"I like the timing of his runs, his determined attitude, the fact that he can play in different positions up front and that he is calm in front of goal," Wenger said.

"The composure he shows in decisive moments doesn't change, whether it's in division one or the Premiership - you have that or you don't have that. He has determination as well as electric pace."

Walcott became Southampton's youngest player when he played against Wolves on the opening day of the season. He has scored four goals in 12 league appearances and hit five goals in nine appearances for England's under-17 side last season.

"Ideally we would want Theo to join us straight away. But it would not be a deal-breaker if Southampton say they want him to finish the season there," Wenger said.

TRANSFER WINDOW

Arsenal were quiet in the close season transfer window, bringing in Alexander Hleb from Vfb Stuttgart, but Walcott could be the third new face heading for Highbury in January.

The London club completed the signing of French midfielder Abou Diaby from AJ Auxerre for an undisclosed fee on Friday.

Diaby, 19, was captain of the French side that won the under-19 European title in 2005.

Wenger has identified him as the man to replace former captain Patrick Vieira when he makes his breakthrough into the first team. Vieira was sold to Juventus in the close season.

"I like his potential, his physical power and the fact that he can win a fight in the middle of the park and the fact that he's good going forward as well," Wenger said.

"He can be a complete midfielder. Of course he has to develop but there is a real potential there. People compare him a little bit with Vieira because he has a similar stature.

"He is a little bit of a different player but Patrick is a good role model for him."

Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor is likely to sign for Arsenal later on Friday and was at their training ground outside the capital to undergo a medical.

"Adebayor has already got big experience. He's played in the Champions League and three seasons in France and you cannot say this is a player with no experience," Wenger said. "For a striker he's at a good age.

"He has qualities we do not have in the squad at the moment. He's tall, good in the air, and makes good runs. He's a bit of a Kanu type, but more going in behind defences."