Liverpool will reportedly give Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a 12-month extension on his current contract, to make up for lost time after his year spent out injured.
Oxlade-Chamberlain made his return to the first-team fold on Friday night with a 17-minute cameo against Huddersfield, describing the rapturous applause he received as “something I’ll remember for life.”
It was a brief but impressive outing from the 25-year-old after almost a year out, having worked his way back to full fitness with a series of appearances for the under-23s.
And it served as just reward for his commitment and resolve during his lengthy rehabilitation, having suffered a serious knee injury this time last year.
According to the Mirror, Liverpool are set to extend his deal by a further year to ensure his initial five-year agreement is played out on the pitch.
While the report is yet to be corroborated elsewhere, or by local journalists, John Cross claims Oxlade-Chamberlain will therefore be tied down until 2023, just before his 30th birthday.
It is described as a “classy gesture,” and it certainly is that, but the hope is that it is backed up by the knowledge that he is unlikely to suffer any setbacks.
Naturally, it is impossible to predict whether that will be the case in the future, but the example of Liverpool pulling out of a deal for Nabil Fekir due to long-term concerns over his knee sets a precedent.
Cross adds that Oxlade-Chamberlain is set to be part of the Reds squad to fly to Barcelona for Wednesday night’s Champions League semi-final first leg.
He will not be expected to start at the Nou Camp, but he provides a much-needed boost from the bench, particularly given Adam Lallana‘s recurring problems and an apparent lack of trust in Xherdan Shaqiri.
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