Sam Allardyce will not guarantee Walcott a central role

The former England manager confirmed his interest in the Arsenal player on Friday, with Everton reportedly hoping to secure a £20m deal by the end of the month. 

Despite Walcott's versatility during his spell at the north London club, where he has been utilised in a range of attacking roles by Arsene Wenger, the 28-year-old has spoken in the past of his preference to play as the central attacker.

Speaking in his pre-match conference on Friday, the 'Toffees' boss said: "I don't know where I'll play him until we get that deal done."

"When that deal's done I can have that conversation with him. I see him playing anywhere across the front three and I'm presuming if he's not comfortable with that then he'll tell us and it won't happen".

The Merseyside team are locked in a battle to land the England international, with his boyhood club Southampton also in the running for his signature.