Theo Walcott believes Bukayo Saka should stay at Arsenal and admitted his game time may be 'limited' if he decides to join Liverpool this summer.
There has been reports suggesting Manchester City are interested in Saka, but sources at the club have told Mirror Sport there is "nothing in the rumours" linking them with a move for the highly-rated winger this summer. City have already completed the big-money signing of Erling Haaland from Borussia Dortmund this summer, while forward Julian Alvarez is also set to arrive from River Plate.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are said to be admirers of the 20-year-old as Jurgen Klopp looks to strengthen his attacking options with Sadio Mane set to join Bayern Munich and Mohamed Salah expected to leave when his contract expires next summer.
Saka is firmly on the Reds' radar despite the impressive form of Luis Diaz, who has shone since his move from Porto, while Diogo Jota also produced some excellent numbers last term. Roberto Firmino and Takumi Minamino are the other two current senior forwards at the Reds with Divock Origi leaving the club this summer.
However, Saka has been urged by former Arsenal winger Walcott to stay at the Emirates Stadium as he is guaranteed a place in the starting XI under Mikel Arteta. He was one of the Gunners' most important players last season as they narrowly missed out on a place in the Champions League, finishing fifth in the end.
"Well, there is obviously a transitional stage at Arsenal, that Mikel is part of, and Saka is massively part of it as well," Walcott told talkSPORT. "The younger crop of players at Arsenal coming through, I feel as though the club need to keep hold of him, simple as that.
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"Obviously, when Manchester City coming knocking on the door, it is such a hard thing for any player really to turn down. He is very young, but I feel that he likes the area of London in Arsenal, the fans have been fantastic, and at the Emirates, which is one of the best stadiums I have ever played in.
"He has great support, and I will be intrigued. My heart says he will be at Arsenal next season, and we will see after that. He needs to understand that the playing opportunities will be limited at Manchester City. He will, of course, be more likely to win things, but it is not saying Arsenal won’t win things.
"I think they are in that phase, they are slowly starting to get there. They would have taken fifth at the start of the season, given how it went. I am hopeful he will be at Arsenal next season, I am pretty sure of that."
