The Southern Daily Echo reported on Wednesday that Southampton have been forced to rethink their January transfer window plans after losing top target Theo Walcott to Everton.

Saints had been looking to bring the 28-year-old back to St Mary's 12 years after he left for the Gunners, and appeared confident that they would get a deal for the winger over the line.

However, the Toffees won the battle to land the England international, with the player seeing the Merseyside outfit as the best option to reignite his career as well as looking forward to working under Sam Allardyce following their brief time together for the national team in 2016.

With Southampton just one point and one place above the Premier League relegation zone following a disappointing campaign under the leadership of Mauricio Pellegrino, they are in desperate need of new bodies in attack – especially with Charlie Austin currently ruled out through injury.

The interest in Walcott – which goes slightly against their policy in recent years – suggest they want someone with knowledge of the English top flight, and bringing his former Gunners teammate Danny Welbeck, who is on £115,000-a-week according to The Telegraph, to St Mary's instead could prove to be a shrewd move.

Here are three reasons Southampton must sign the 27-year-old after missing out on their former star…

He is out of favour

While Welbeck has made 22 appearances in all competitions for Arsenal this season, including 16 in the Premier League, his start in the defeat to Bournemouth last weekend was his first in the top flight since October.

Even though Walcott has gone and Alexis Sanchez looks set to follow him, the potential additions of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Malcom – as well as the return of Olivier Giroud from injury – could push the 27-year-old even further down the pecking order, and he could be available to sign before the end of the month.

With 18 months left on his contract Saints may be able to sign him for a decent fee, or even bring him in on loan until the end of the season.

Goal threat

The 27-year-old has struggled with injury throughout his career with Arsenal and Manchester United, but he has scored 39 goals and provided a further 24 assists in 186 Premier League appearances.

There is no doubt that the forward could boost a Southampton frontline that has struggled for goals over the course of the last 18 months, and he has the ability to find the net on a consistent basis if he is given a regular run in the side.

His qualities

Welbeck is quick, likes to dribble at opposition defenders, has good work rate and has the tendency to find himself in the right place at the right time, and he would certainly add some pace and a goal threat that the current Southampton side is often lacking.

While the 27-year-old's preferred position is as the main centre-forward, he is also able to play out wide if required and his versatility may well appeal to Mauricio Pochettino with time running out to bring new players to the club this month.

Do you agree, Saints fans? Let us know below.