Chelsea reportedly agreed to a fee with Arsenal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, but the English winger’s heart is set on Liverpool.
According to BBC Sport’s David Ornstein, Oxlade-Chamberlain turned down a move to Chelsea after the Blues agreed to a £40-million fee with Arsenal. The product of Southampton apparently believes that he’ll be used as a wing-back at Stamford Bridge, and his primary reason for wanting to leave the Gunners is to play in central midfield.
Oxlade-Chamberlain allegedly wants to join Liverpool, and a bid from the Reds is expected before the summer transfer window’s deadline. The offer, however, is likely to be below what Chelsea was willing to pay, and, if a transfer fails to take place, he’ll see out the final year of his contract at Arsenal before potentially leaving the Emirates Stadium on a free transfer.
Per the Guardian’s Dominic Fifield, Arsenal offered Oxlade-Chamberlain a new contract valued at £180,000 per week, but he made it clear last week that his preference is to seek a new challenge having grown frustrated at the role he’s being asked to play with the Gunners.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who joined Arsenal from Southampton in 2011, appeared in the Gunners’ first three games of the Premier League season, but played just 62 minutes in their 4-0 humiliation at Liverpool.