Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is hoping to secure a move to the Premiership this summer.
The talented forward has been one of England’s most sought after youngsters with reports linking him with a move to Arsenal, Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea.
The Southampton sensation is hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Saints trainees Theo Walcott and Gareth Bale by succeeding at a top club in the Premier League. He told Mirror Sport:
“I just feel that I am ready to play in the Premier League. I think I can take a lot of encouragement and confidence from what Theo – and Gareth Bale at Spurs – have done.
“When you look at a player like Jack Wilshere at Arsenal, he was only a year above me in the academies.
“He played in a tournament that I was in as a youngster and even then you could see he was going to be unbelievable.
“The same as Gareth and Theo, and with the other players my age that have made the step up, like Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones. There’s no barrier on the age you have to be to play in the Premier League. If you’re good enough, you’re old enough. Hopefully I’ll get the opportunity to prove that.”
Despite his age the 17-year old believes he is ready for life in the the Premiership. The teenager said:
“At this point I feel I am ready. I am still young and I still have time to go into a Premier League set-up and learn.
“I don’t expect to walk into the first team of any club by any means. I know I would have to basically start again, bide my time and, if a chance came, take it.
“People compare me to Theo and I don’t mind that as he is a brilliant player. But I’ve only been a winger in the past year. Before that I was playing centre-midfield through the age groups.”
Arsenal have been the front-runners for his signature with the players father suggesting the Gunners would be the best place for his son to develop his career, but the two clubs have yet to agree a fee leaving the door open for one of the other big clubs to swoop in and snap up the £10m rated forward.
Submitted by Football Friends
