Is there any truth to rumours of Walcott-Silva rift?

Often during the second half of Everton’s ill-fated 2017-18 season, winger Theo Walcott was the only bright spot of the weekend. However, there are some rumours going around on social media that the player is dissatisfied with new manager Marco Silva and wants out, and that presents a major problem for the Blues if true.

Walcott is yet to feature for the Toffees this preseason despite being prominent in most videos released of Everton training this summer. The official line remains that Walcott picked up an ankle injury while the Blues were at training camp in Austria, and that he has been held out since then as a precaution.

Meanwhile, the forward has been used prominently in promotions for the new away kit as well.

The Twitter rumours were quite prevalent yesterday as a lacklustre Everton slumped to a 3-0 defeat away to newly-promoted Championship side Blackburn Rovers.

With Yannick Bolasie on his way out and Ademola Lookman likely to follow, if Everton were to lose Theo Walcott too we would be in serious trouble for next season. Apart from that trio, new signing Richarlison, Kevin Mirallas and Sandro Ramirez the only wingers on the squad, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin likely to fill in as needed.

Considering there’s been absolutely nothing mentioned about this from any club insiders or any other reliable sources, we’d probably wager that these are just idle rumours and that there’s nothing to them.