Liverpool Still Keen But Chelsea Confident Of Securing £35m Midfielder Deal

Managers are now pressing ahead with their plans for the final weeks of the summer transfer window so we’ll bring you all the latest news and gossip from around the globe. Today, Chelsea close-in on Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain….

Chelsea are increasingly confident they have beaten Liverpool to the signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the Blues locked in talks with Arsenal over a £35m deal, according to the Evening Standard.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has just one year remaining on his current contract at the Emirates and his future is in serious doubt as he’s no closer to agreeing terms over an extension.

The 23-year-old has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs in recent weeks with Chelsea and Liverpool among those to be credited with an interest in the England international.

Jurgen Klopp is in the market for another midfielder as he looks to build a squad capable of challenging for the title and the Reds boss may view Oxlade-Chamberlain as an alternative to Naby Keita after failing to persuade RB Leipzig to sell their star man.

However, the Daily Star reported late last week that Chelsea were in pole position ahead of Liverpool to sign The Ox after tabling a £35m offer and it looks like a deal could now be edging closer to completion.

The Evening Standard claim that while Liverpool remain keen, Chelsea have received encouragement from Arsenal that they are prepared to sell and the Blues are growing increasingly confident a £35m deal will be agreed before the end of the month.

Arsene Wenger would ideally like to keep the 23-year-old but with the Gunners also facing the prospect of losing Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil for nothing next summer, they may be forced to cash-in on The Ox.

Talks between the two clubs are ongoing but the newspaper says Antonio Conte is ready to lure Oxlade-Chamberlain to Stamford Bridge with the promise of making him his first choice right wing-back.

The Ox has struggled to nail down a regular place at Arsenal since joining the club in 2011 and he’s been used in a variety of positions by Wenger including on the wing, central midfield, right wing-back and more recently left wing-back.

The player is understandably keen to establish himself in a fixed position ahead of the 2018 World Cup so Oxlade-Chamberlain could be tempted by a move to Chelsea if it meant he’s guaranteed to play every week.

READ MORE –> Arsenal transfer news | Chelsea transfer news | Liverpool transfer news

A switch to Stamford Bridge would also allow the player to remain in London where he’s settled so it wouldn’t come as a great surprise if a deal is concluded before the window slams shut at the end of the month.