Southampton manager Mauricio Pellegrino has confirmed that he is interested in the possibility of signing Theo Walcott from Arsenal during the January transfer window.

Walcott has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates Stadium this month having failed to make a single Premier League start all season, although manager Arsene Wenger recently insisted that he wants the 28-year-old to stay at the club.

Southampton, who sold Walcott to Arsenal as a 16-year-old in 2006, are understood to be leading the race for his signature, and Pellegrino confirmed that the winger is one of the players he is looking at.

"I have been talking about him. He is a good player, but I don't know with the negotiations, with the market, I imagine that this type of player would have a lot of possibility. For us it's not easy," he told reporters.

"Hopefully we can bring somebody that can help us be stronger. This is our target now. We know the market is difficult, but we are working on that."

Southampton currently sit 17th in the Premier League table, only outside the relegation zone on goal difference.