Southampton are reportedly eyeing a sensational return for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is likely to leave Liverpool this summer.
If reports from The Sun are to be believed, Southampton have entered the race to sign Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The club is well aware of the midfielder’s precarious situation at Liverpool, who are open to listening to offers and thereby offloading him as part of Jurgen Klopp’s squad reform.
Southampton are mainly keen on establishing a loan deal for Oxlade-Chamberlain. They believe the former Arsenal can man improve the team with his experience and pedigree at the highest level of football. Most importantly, they are ready to give him the platform to once again showcase his talents in the Premier League next season.
A native of Portsmouth, Oxlade-Chamberlain began his youth career at Southampton back in 2000, at the age of just seven. He enjoyed swift growth in the club’s academy, eventually being promoted to the senior side in 2010. It was quite an achievement for the youngster, who benefitted from the fact that his club was playing in the Championship.
As such, he had no difficulties making his breakthrough in senior football during the 2010/11 campaign before earning a €13 million move to Arsenal. He and fellow youngster Theo Walcott were even regarded as the future of English football at the time, but neither of the two players have really managed to live up to the expectations.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s downfall began at Liverpool after he joined the club in 2017. It was a costly move as the Englishman struggled to make an impression under Jurgen Klopp. However, injuries played a key role in stifling his progress at Anfield, with the playmaker falling down the pecking order, especially after the emergence of Liverpool’s attacking trifecta of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Roberto Firmino.
And after four seasons of disappointment, it is his former club Southampton that are ready to offer him the opportunity to revive his career and end his misery at Liverpool. The Saints are not the only club to be linked with Oxlade-Chamberlain, though, with the former Arsenal man even being subjected to a move to West Ham earlier in the summer.
The 27-year-old, though, will certainly favour a return to St. Mary’s Stadium, where he is likely to serve as a main creative force. Unfortunately, the Saints are currently without a proper striker after Danny Ings’ shock move to Aston Villa.
Former Crystal Palace forward Alexander Sorloth was identified as an immediate replacement for the Englishman, but the club is apparently closing in on Chelsea whizkid Armando Broja, on a season-long loan deal. As for Oxlade-Chamberlain, a move away from Liverpool might serve him well, with Southampton a likely destination.
As he’s “home grown” and we’re already short of “home grown” players, if he leaves we need to be able to replace him with another “home grown” player.
If Southampton are truly interested then let’s do a deal for Ward-Prowse.
Other “home grown” midfielders worth a look are Joe Willock at Arsenal, who could give us goals from midfield and Harry Winks at Spurs that would give us cover for Fabinho and possibly Henderson.
Klopp would “do an Andy Robertson” on all three.