ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN CELTIC LATEST
- BY LIAM CARRIGAN
- 36 minutes ago
- 2 min read
I already wrote earlier today about the rather lukewarm yet cautiously optimistic feelings I have about the five players Celtic brought in during last month’s transfer window.
However, a very reliable and usually quite consistent source suggests that Celtic may yet have one more deal to broker.
Unlike yesterday’s sloppy but ultimately conclusive business, there is no immediate time pressure in this case. I’ve said for a while now that Celtic need a combative midfield powerhouse. The question is though: Is former Liverpool and England star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Celtic’s missing midfield general?
Multiple sources over the past 24 hours seem to think so.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Celtic Move Probably Depends on Arsenal Stance
The 30 times capped England midfielder is a free agent, after leaving Turkish side Besiktas last August. In recent months he has been training with Arsenal’s youth team.
The Gunners’ current manager Mikel Arteta hasn’t ruled out offering the 32-year-old a contract, though if he did, it would clearly just be as a backup.
Oxlade-Chamberlain played for Arsenal for 6 seasons before joining Liverpool for £35 million in 2017, at the peak of his powers.
This is a player who has commanded big money in the past. Even his most recent contract with Besiktas, was rumored to be in the range of £5 million per year.
However, Arsenal are unlikely to offer anything like that for a player who hasn’t played competitive football for more than 6 months, and would very much be a squad player at best.
Sky Sports Football Reporter Anthony Joseph (usually a fairly reliable source) stated last night that Celtic were interested in the player. He also seems very much like the kind of rejuvenation project that Martin O’Neill would revel in.
Concerns have been raised already about the player’s age. But he is only a couple of months older than Celtic captain Callum McGregor.
Ultimately, it seems that his will come down to what the player himself (who until now has remained silent on the speculation) wants. If he’d prefer the comfort of familiar surroundings at Arsenal, albeit on a lesser wage than he would like, then that’s probably where he’ll end up.
However, if he wants one last big challenge, to test himself once more in European football, and have a chance to win a few more trophies before calling it a day, then Celtic would be the obvious choice.
Either way, I expect this business will be concluded soon. The player will want to get back playing as soon as possible. If the player needs any convincing or being “sold on the idea” of Celtic, then he’s probably not what we are looking for.
There’s no denying that he was once one of England’s most promising young players, but the last thing Celtic need right now is another Freddy Ljungberg scenario.
Our days of being an early retirement home for those deemed surplus to requirements at the likes of Arsenal are over.