According to reports from English media, Chelsea are lining up an immediate transfer bid for Arsenal’s star winger Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain. The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with a move away from the Emirates after reportedly rejecting a £100,000-a-week deal from the Gunners. With the transfer market slowly coming to a close, Premier League champions Chelsea are in a stress of having to make at least one more signing, before they can ready themselves for the upcoming season. Liverpool have emerged to be potential suitors for OX as Jurgen Klopp is a big admirer of the English International.
However, Chelsea are expected overtake the Reds, who are yet to make a formal bid for the Arsenal starlet. But which club will be better suited for Alex-Oxlade Chamberlain?
The 23-year-old has been with the Gunners since 2011. Since then, he has made almost 200 senior appearances for Arsenal in all competitions, scoring 20 goals and providing 32 assists. Fortunately for him, both the interested clubs can offer Champions League football next season so he might have the luxury to choose whatever he wants.
Chelsea
As mentioned before, Chelsea still wants to get some things done before the transfer market shuts down. The acquisition of Alex Oxlade Chamberlain could be a fitting end to their transfer market this summer. The Blues have already made three major signings in centre-back Antonio Rudiger, midfielder Tiemoue Bakayoko and striker Alvaro Morata. So it’s only understandable that manager Antonio Conte is looking for a winger right now.
Ox is a very speedy winger who can create havoc on the flanks. Much like Franck Ribery at Bayern, his blistering speed is well complemented with some exceptional dribbling skills. However, Arsene Wenger has used him as a tactical outlet in midfield and to dictate the tempo from the middle of the park. And this has worked significantly well for the England International, who seems to love dictating play from the middle.
In Chelsea, he can either replace Victor Moses and start as a right wingback. His tactical nous can help him excel under Chelsea boss Antonio Conte and if he can improve on his defensive skills a bit more, then the Italian has every right utilize him as a proper wingback in his three man defensive chain.
Alternatively, Ox can start anywhere in the midfield, where he will dictate the play, and help create chances for the likes of Alvaro Morata. In Bakayoko and Kante, he will also have the necessary support from midfield, meaning he can have more freedom in opposition half spaces. He can also play as an out and out winger for the Blues. However, it’s highly doubtful, since they already have Pedro and Eden Hazard patrolling down the wider positions.
Liverpool
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain will definitely be more valuable to Liverpool than to Chelsea. Jurgen Klopp has been an admirer of him for a long time.
Looking at Liverpool, they have just made a comeback to the Champions League after missing out in the past couple of seasons. The Reds now have a daunting task of living up to the expectations. However, Jurgen Klopp’s men haven’t really made any significant signings this summer, apart from the record breaking move for AS Roma winger Mohamed Salah. They have also signed left back Andrew Robertson from Hull City this week.
So how does Ox fit into this Liverpool team?
The main topic would be the transfer value. Chamberlain is estimated to be valued at £25m, which is actually pretty decent from a Liverpool perspective. He can provide some much-needed depth to the squad, especially if crucial players like Coutinho or Sadio Mane get injured during the course of the season. The duo of Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mane has already caused a lot of headlines. Now if you add Oxlade Chamberlain into the mix, it could definitely create a lot of stir.
Also, with Emre Can seemingly linked with a move to Juventus, it will leave Jurgen Klopp with just two midfielders in the squad in Jordan Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum. Ox’s arrival at the club could boost the depth of the squad. He certainly has the ability to act as a proper number 8 or a false 10. And who knows? He can be a long term replacement for Coutinho? While if he does start in the wider positions, then the pace of Salah, Ox and Mane can be intimidating for the opposition.
Overall, the Arsenal star shouldn’t really worry about being left on the sidelines if he does move elsewhere as both the clubs are pretty much suited for the 23-year-old. Unless of course, if he plans to move to Manchester City, who are the third Premier League club to be strongly linked with Ox. Moving to Etihad can be a foolish decision, and that will certainly leave him on the bench for most of the time.
