Arsenal winger Theo Walcott could make his return from a serious knee injury by the end of the month, manager Arsene Wenger revealed on Thursday, just as he also disclosed that club captain, Thomas Vermaelen may be sold to  rivals, Manchester United.

Walcott, 25, has not played since rupturing the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in the FA Cup third round in January.

He subsequently had to undergo surgery, forcing him to miss both Arsenal’s FA Cup triumph over Hull City and England’s World Cup campaign, but Wenger says that he is now close to a return.

Walcott: warming up for a return August ending

“Theo Walcott is planned to come back into my group on August 31. The beginning of September at the latest,” the Frenchman told a press conference at the Emirates Stadium.

“He’s doing well, but he’s not completely ready.”

Asked when Walcott will be available to play, Wenger replied: “I would say end of August.”

England have a friendly game at home to Norway on September 3, but Wenger thinks that the game will come too soon for Walcott.

“To play an international match, that could be a bit early,” he said.

 Wenger hinted on Thursday that Premier League rivals Manchester United are one of several clubs pursuing the signature of Belgian defender Thomas Vermaelen.

Vermaelen, 28, is Arsenal’s club captain, but he lost his place in the first XI last season and has been linked with clubs including United and Barcelona.

Wenger confirmed  that Arsenal had received bids for the left-footed centre-back and when asked which clubs had made them, he replied: “I can’t tell you that, but you will know very soon.”

Pressed as to whether United were one of the clubs to have expressed an interest, he said: “I think they could be in the group.”

While Wenger would not comment on press reports that Arsenal are asking for a fee of up to £15 million ($25.3 million, 18.9 million euros) for Vermaelen, he conceded that he was considering letting him leave.

“It could happen,” said the Frenchman, whose side face Manchester City in the Community Shield at Wembley on Sunday.

“I’ve said since the start of pre-season that it could happen that Thomas leaves us because he needs to play now.

“He had an outstanding attitude and behaviour, but he’s in a position where it’s difficult to stand in his way if he finds an interesting opportunity.”

Wenger confirmed that there were foreign teams among the clubs to have made enquiries about Vermaelen.

When he was asked if he would prefer to sell him to an overseas club, he replied: “Ideally, yes.”