By John Edwards

PUBLISHED: 06:17 EST, 23 October 2012 | UPDATED: 06:17 EST, 23 October 2012

Juventus are ready to challenge Liverpool and Manchester City for Theo Walcott after Antonio Conte urged his bosses to enter the bidding for the Arsenal forward.

Sportsmail understands Conte is a huge admirer of Walcott's pacey, direct style and has earmarked a role for him on the right of a front three at the Juventus Stadium.

Wanted man: Theo Walcott is the final year of his contract with Arsenal

Wanted man: Theo Walcott is the final year of his contract with Arsenal

Alerted by the deadlock over contract talks at The Emirates, Juve have been monitoring Walcott's form for the best part of a year and closely following movements from other interested parties.

Conte is convinced the 23-year old England flyer is the answer to his search for a right-sided attacker and has put him ahead of Manchester United winger Nani on his list of priorities.

The Juve coach is confident of pipping Arsenal for Fernando Llorente, after drawing up a provisional contract for the Athletic Bilbao striker worth 145,000 a week, and wants Walcott to operate on the right of him.

As Serie A leaders and reigning champions, he believes a revitalised Juventus may appeal to Walcott, who turned down Arsenal's five-year 75,000-a-week offer in August and is now in the final 12 months of his current contract.

He is thought to be looking for 100,000 a week, which would be well within range for Juventus, given the terms promised to Llorente.

Get him: Juventus coach Antonio Conte wants to strengthen his ranks with Walcott as well as Fernando Llorente, who himself is being tracked by Arsenal

Get him: Juventus coach Antonio Conte wants to strengthen his ranks with Walcott as well as Fernando Llorente, who himself is being tracked by Arsenal

Get him: Juventus coach Antonio Conte wants to strengthen his ranks with Walcott as well as Fernando Llorente, who himself is being tracked by Arsenal

The one ray of hope for Liverpool is a suggestion that Conte's enthusiasm for recruiting Walcott may not be shared within the Turin club's boardroom, following close scrutiny of scouting reports on performance levels that have varied over the past 12 months.

Paris St Germain are also keen and could, along with Juventus, open talks on a pre-contract agreement in January.


The comments below have not been moderated.

If he went to Juve it would improve his diving skills - Boshboy, Weybridge, 23/10/2012 12:58.... Yes, very Funny Boshboy. Now go back to School. I am amazed you can even read. Once you understand how Football is really played then come back, otherwise stick to the Beano.

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the one , Liverpool: "...Johnny Evans and Phil Jones wouldn't even improve the Crawley town squad." If that was so, who would Carragher, Henderson, Downing, Shelvey, Borini etc. be able to improve? Possibly your old school side?

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Deadly Earnest , Manchester, United I don't know about the rest but Johnny Evans and Phil Jones wouldn't even improve the Crawley town squad. Your keeper's brilliant too, Spain national team's 27th choice..... - - the one, Liverpool, United Kingdom, ..........I dont want to get involved in your petty argument but I'd like to point out that Jonny Evans was Man Of The Match against RONALDO recently....As a certain person would say...."I am not ranting..I'm talking FACTS"

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Deadly Earnest , Manchester, United I don't know about the rest but Johnny Evans and Phil Jones wouldn't even improve the Crawley town squad. Your keeper's brilliant too, Spain national team's 27th choice.

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deadly earnest full of bull sh"t

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deadly earnest full of bull sh"t

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Wouldn't it be galling if Walcott went to another team and became a top class striker just because he-who-used-to-be-a-great-manager-but-lost-the-plot-years-ago is too stubborn to try him in that role, because it is Walcott that wants it and not him? Ditto Gervinho, who doubtless will be on his bike shortly, because he really isn't cutting it on the wing either. Isn't it obvious that, the longer both these players have to think about what to do with the ball, the more likely they are to make a mess of it. Put them in a situation where they don't have time to think, but have to react instinctively, and they seem to do better. Giroud, by contrast, seems to be yet another player whom Wenger will play game after game after game and he still won't deliver and the team will keep failing.

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Its all about the wages,fellas,all about how many millions a player can get for kicking a ball about a field

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But according to his agent, John Colquhoun, it's not about money - Theo just wants to play up-front as a striker so they won't be interested in Juve. Sure they won't. Good Day.

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I'd rather he stay but if he's going to go sell him in January, preferably abroad. We have the Ox but would like to see a replacement. Simple solution is to play Walcott up front in the Capital Cup and see how he does as we could always do with a bit off extra cover until Giroud settles.

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