Arsenal are changing their stance on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and are ready to allow the contract rebel to leave the club in the coming days, according to reports.
The England international, wanted by Liverpool and Chelsea this summer, held talks with Arsene Wenger recently regarding a new deal, with a £180,000-a-week package on the table.
But despite the enormously lucrative offer, the Daily Mail claim that Oxlade-Chamberlain has snubbed the deal – a take-it-or-leave-it final offer – and forced Arsenal into reconsidering their position.
The north London club had been adamant that he would not leave despite only having one year left on his current deal, though had always been confident of getting him to commit.
But now they will look to offload him before the window shuts next week rather than lose him for nothing next summer.
Arsenal hope to spark a bidding war between Liverpool and Chelsea over Oxlade-Chamberlain, with both clubs showing an interest in signing him – the latter had a £25m bid rejected.
Liverpool’s interest has cooled, but they could reignite their move for the 24-year-old in the coming days, having now secured their place in the Champions League proper.
Oxlade-Chamberlain insists his decision to snub the deal is not financial, but rather he wants to further his career and become an England regular.
Despite being a winger by trade, he has recently been used as a wing-back and in defence, denied the opportunity to play in his preferred position in the front line.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s decision is a huge blow to Arsene Wenger, who wanted to keep the youngster, but it has strengthened his resolve to keep fellow contract rebels Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez.
‘All these conversations that I have [I say] that I want him to stay and be one of the big players of the future of this club,’ said Wenger earlier this week.
‘He is one of the players this team has to be built around in the future. Personally I want him to commit to the club and to be one of the carrier of the values of our team.
‘I want to keep my best players. I only have one target: to keep everybody onboard. I think we invested a lot of time, confidence and money on players like Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who we bought at a young age.
‘For me, they have a responsibility for the future of this club because Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be one of the big English players in the coming years. I personally am highly determined to keep him here at the club and I hope he will commit.’
MORE : Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain farce encapsulates a decade of Arsene Wenger and Arsenal’s biggest failings
MORE : Alexis Sanchez set to play in Liverpool v Arsenal clash, confirms Arsene Wenger
Share this with