Hands off Walcott: Saints

Southampton have moved to end speculation linking teenage striker Theo Walcott with a January move to Chelsea.

Jose Mourinho’s Premiership champions are reportedly poised with a bid rising to £8m (€11.8m) for the 16-year-old, who has scored three goals in his first four starts for the Saints.

But Southampton chairman Rupert Lowe dismissed the reports, telling the club’s official website, www.saintsfc.com: “We have not had an approach. We don’t want to sell him and he is very happy here. I spoke to his father before Saturday’s game and he is very pleased with the way things are going.

“We have good people here who can help him develop and he is playing regularly and doing well.”

Manager Harry Redknapp is also determined to hold onto Walcott, and said: “He is better off where he is, because he is playing every week and learning the game. He would not play at Chelsea.

“He is a smashing kid and a great talent but he is still young and he is learning the game. I’m sure the chairman wouldn’t sell him. You have to keep your best players and he would not be for sale.”