Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is said to be mulling over a summer exit, with Liverpool his most likely destination if so.
The 23-year-old appears to have moved up Jurgen Klopp‘s list of attacking targets, following Julian Brandt’s comments about the important of regular first-team football.
Liverpool have turned their focus to different options, with the Bayer Leverkusen winger now seemingly off the radar.
Next in line is Oxlade-Chamberlain, though the Gunners star may have been earmarked for a different role under Klopp, if reports are to be believed.
According to the Telegraph, Oxlade-Chamberlain is “considering quitting” Arsenal as he could be given the chance to play central midfield on Merseyside.
He is currently awaiting a contract offer from Arsenal, and “should negotiations fail to advance it is understood the England international is ready to push for a move to Anfield.”
“Oxlade-Chamberlain wants his career to develop as a central midfielder rather than wide man,” Chris Bascombe writes, “and Klopp’s interest will make Liverpool front-runners should a transfer materialise.”
However, the Gunners’ £25 million price tag, the prospect of Arsene Wenger being replaced and Oxlade-Chamberlain’s forthcoming contract talks remain barriers for the Reds.
The notion of Oxlade-Chamberlain arriving to primarily serve as a central midfielder is an interesting one, with the former Southampton youth able to play a variety of roles.
He could take up a similar duty to England team-mate Adam Lallana, providing thrust from the most advanced position in Klopp’s midfield three.
His ability to operate on either flank, deeper in midfielder and, now, even as a wing-back would allow Klopp to tailor his system to suit different circumstances, too.
This is believed to be why Oxlade-Chamberlain appeals to the German, along with his malleable talent, still at such a young age.
With Brandt seemingly out of the picture, and Oxlade-Chamberlain the “more likely” target than Roma’s Mohamed Salah at this stage, he could well be Klopp’s next big signing.
Although if Oxlade-Chamberlain is to join as a central midfielder, Klopp would be wise to pursue both him and Salah, as his squad is in desperate need of more depth ahead of 2017/18.
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