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Aston Villa still want to seal Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain transfer - Sky Sports
Aston Villa are one of three Premier League clubs interested in signing former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, according to Sky Sports.
Named on Good Morning transfers on the 24 July, Villa were joined by Brentford and Brighton as the clubs from the English top-flight who held an interest in the 29-year-old who also has offers abroad.
The England international left Liverpool upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the 2022-23 campaign but has been in no rush to decide on his next destination as he assesses all of his potential options.
Discussing the potential interest, Sky said: “We understand three Premier League clubs are interested in signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. We understand those clubs are Aston Villa, Brighton and Brentford.
“It’s also understood he’s had interest from the MLS, Turkey and of course from the Saudi Pro League as well. He already has turned down a few lucrative proposals abroad, because his preferred option at this moment in time is to stay in England.
“He turns 30 next month, he still feels like he has a future at international level. He won the last of his 35 England caps in 2019 so there are a few options on the table for Oxlade-Chamberlain, but his preference is to stay in the Premier League.”
A diamond in the rough
There’s now doubting that Oxlade-Chamberlain has the talent and technical ability to be not only an England international again, but an incredible signing for Aston Villa. He was crucial in Liverpool’s run to the Champions League final in the 2017/18 season, including a wonder strike against Manchester City.
But his fitness issues are probably what he is best known for in recent seasons, last campaign he only managed 13 appearances in all competitions with only four starts coming in the Premier League.
This isn’t a recent issue either, ‘the Ox’ had similar issues at the Emirates Stadium and Aston Villa don’t want to be wasting wages on a player who is never available, especially when they have already found it difficult to have the likes of Philippe Coutinho available consistently.
However, with European football on the cards this season, Unai Emery’s side will need depth across the team for what will be an intense campaign and there are much worse people to provide that depth than a player who has won the Champions League and been part of a side that has reached the final twice.
It will entirely depend on what sort of terms the 29-year-old expects and whether the people in charge at Villa Park think it’s worth the gamble.
In other Aston Villa news, young keeper Viljami Sinisalo has been given the opportunity to earn the number two shirt at Villa Park