The Ox is eyeing up potential suitors!
Whilst Arsenal fans cannot continue to demand more and more from the club in the transfer market, admittedly it has gone awfully quiet since the signing of Granit Xhaka.
Fans cannot expect all of the club’s business to be done straight away and although previous windows have proven quiet periods after the first signing, I am confident that it will not be the case this summer, and that Xhaka will not be our only summer signing. Therefore whilst we await for any developments on potential incomers, it gives Arsenal fans a chance to consider a player who could be leaving the Emirates this summer.
According to the Mirror, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain may still leave the Gunners this summer and apparently both Liverpool and Leicester are touting up the young Englishman. These two clubs are the latest of a few Premier League teams who remain interested in Oxlade Chamberlain. It was previously reported that both West Ham, and Chamberlain’s former club Southampton, were also interested in the winger. Chamberlain had supposedly spoken with Saints Captain Jose Fonte about a potential return back to the club, however as of this moment it seems as if there have been no real developments.
Chamberlain is currently recovering from an injury that he picked up against FC Barcelona back when the Gunners faced them in the Champions League at the Emirates. Chamberlain had been on good progress to return and make the Euro championships with England, however he suffered a setback that has ruled him out of the tournament. Despite the injury however, there were no guarantees that Chamberlain would have even gone to France with the England squad this summer, as the Ox has arguably been in poor form all season. Chamberlain has seen his career at Arsenal stall badly after his first season as the Englishman made a good impression with the Gunners to start with, but much like his Arsenal and England teammate Theo Walcott, Chamberlain has largely struggled to make an impact since.
Even If any one of the four clubs linked with Oxlade Chamberlain was to make a decent offer, I still don’t think Wenger would be certain to take the deal. Wenger may feel that he isn’t going to give up on Chamberlain after the time and money that the club has invested into him and at 22 years old, The Ox could still have plenty to offer. However the real question is will Chamberlain be looking to leave? Surely he is aware that it is unlikely he will be a first team regular next season, especially if Arsenal miraculously manage to keep the majority of their squad fit next season, and with another additional member already joining the midfield, the Ox could find his chances limited even further.
Should Wenger let Oxlade-Chamberlain to make room for a more accomplished striker?
By AH