Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Arsenal man turns down £40m Chelsea move
Last updated on .From the section Football
Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has turned down a move to Chelsea after the Premier League clubs agreed a £40m fee.
Oxlade-Chamberlain believes the Blues planned to use him at wing-back, and his primary reason for wanting to leave Arsenal is to play in central midfield.
The 24-year-old England international wants to move to Liverpool and the Anfield club are interested in a deal.
A bid is expected before Thursday's transfer deadline, although it will be short of the £40m Chelsea offered.
Should a move not transpire, Oxlade-Chamberlain will see out the final year of his contract before potentially leaving on a free transfer next summer.
Arsenal want any deal for the former Southampton midfielder completed as quickly as possible.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has started every game for the Gunners so far this season, including Sunday's 4-0 defeat at Liverpool, when he was substituted.
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Chelsea manager Antonio Conte had made it clear he wanted to add further to his squad before the transfer window closes on Thursday.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has made 198 appearances for Arsenal since joining them from Southampton in August 2011.
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I don't think he will be missed by Arsenal and as a Liverpool fan I am glad we are not signing him.
What? £35 Million? The world has gone mad.
Next season always arrives and there is never a huge improvement.
I can't see how he will improve Chelsea's starting XI , and assume he will be a squad player.
O-C typifies everything that is wrong at Arsenal. A fair weather player who turns in a performance once in every five.
What I don't understand is why Chelsea would want him. They must be desperate, or mad.
Have to say, pleased Liverpool were not his destination, he would not get in the present team !
The fact he's rejecting Arsenal really means there's trouble over there. Shame, I hope Wenger yet again confounds critics, but it seems bleak with players not extending contracts, sulking. They need a mass clear out.
I'm assuming the idea will be for him to play as a RWB in Moses' position, which he has all the attributes for. Just unfortunately think this may be the start of the end of Wenger's long innings as an Arsenal manager.