In his first summer at Anfield, German manager Jurgen Klopp surprised many a Liverpool fan by ending the transfer window with a positive net spent. He seemed to have broken the transfer record on Sadio Mane but the Reds faithful were unhappy with the lack of a star additions at the start of the season.
But with the progress the club has made, it is clear that Klopp will only sign big names if he believes they can fit in at Liverpool and that is how most of the new transfer rumours regarding the club are treated. And one such player who is now dividing opinion among fans is Arsenal’s Oxlade-Chamberlain.
News broke out yesterday that Arsenal are willing to sell the midfielder for around £30m this summer and Liverpool are one of the clubs reportedly interested in his signature.
The English star will enter the final year of his contract next season if stays at the Emirates and many seem to believe that £30m is too steep for a player who is struggling to get into the first team under Arsene Wenger. But is Chamberlain even an option for Liverpool?
Lack of game time at the Emirates is certain to make Anfield an attractive destination for the 23-year old but at his price, Liverpool will want a player who can walk into the first team.
Capable of playing on the wing or as a part of the midfield three, Chamberlain and his attributes are tailor made for Klopp’s style of play. Quick and athletic, Chamberlain is a bundle of energy that refuses to stop.
Technically gifted, the English midfielder loves to dribble past opponents and is one of the hardest players to mark in a one on one situation in the middle of the park. He has a sublime vision and executes some impossible passes and is a player who can make things happen out of nowhere.
But at Anfield, Liverpool have the likes of Adam Lallana and Georginio Wijnaldum cemented in this position while Jordan Henderson and Emre Can might get a competitor for their CDM position this summer. This leaves Ox way down the pecking order and a waste at £30m.
His versatility might add a number in attack as the 23-year old can act as a winger if needed. Liverpool lack genuine width in their attack but Klopp is sure to address this issue at the end of the season, making Ox only a backup.
So, in more ways than one, Oxlade-Chamberlain, though is a top-class star that can improve the squad at Anfield, is not a player that Liverpool desperately need.
The Reds need players who can walk into the first team and make them more exciting next season. Though Oxlade-Chamberlain can excite many, he is not the player that can lift Liverpool to their first league title in a year’s time. Do you think Klopp should spend around £30m on the Arsenal star this summer?
