Liverpool have reportedly been contacted by Premier League rivals West Ham United over a potential move for out-of-favour midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
According to a report from Football Insider, West Ham United have made an approach to 2019/20 Premier League champions Liverpool to explore the possibility of signing midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in the summer transfer window.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, who spent the majority of his professional career at Arsenal, made the switch to Liverpool in the summer of 2017. Initially, a regular under Jurgen Klopp, the 27-year-old has steadily dropped down the pecking order of things at Anfield over the past year or so, largely due to injury and fitness issues.
Indeed, Oxlade-Chamberlain has featured just 16 times across all competitions this season, totalling up to 286 minutes of action, with one goal to show for his efforts, which came this past Wednesday against Burnley. The Englishman is behind the likes of Jordan Henderson, Georginio Wijnaldum, Thiago Alcantara, James Milner, Naby Keita and even young Curtis Jones in the order of preference at Anfield, currently.
Liverpool are in the market for a new central midfielder ahead of the summer, and have been linked with a move for Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans recently, due to the impending exit of Wijnaldum, whose contract will expire at the end of the season. It would mean that Oxlade-Chamberlain’s prospects are unlikely to improve even if the Dutchman ends up leaving this summer.
Liverpool, as a result, are contemplating the possibility of selling the former Arsenal star, which had led to interest in him from German giants Borussia Dortmund. And now, West Ham United have also emerged as prospective suitors for the 27-year-old ahead of the summer transfer window which is not very far away.
West Ham, as per the report, are seeking reinforcements in the attacking midfield region. Jesse Lingard, on loan from Manchester United, has made a sensational impact for the Hammers and remains their priority transfer target. However, with the wages involved likely to be a stumbling block, David Moyes & co. are keeping their options open, with Oxlade-Chamberlain emerging as a viable alternative for his compatriot.
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To that end, West Ham have made contact with Liverpool through third parties to assess the possibility of a transfer. The Reds, for their part, are willing to listen to offers for the former Southampton academy man, who has a contract that runs till the summer of 2023. The report adds that the Merseyside giants value Oxlade-Chamberlain at around £22 million.
As things stand, it does seem like Oxlade-Chamberlain could be on his way out of Liverpool in the summer. It now remains to be seen if the 35-time capped England international ends up returning to London by signing for West Ham.
Injury prone, get rid off