Rumour Mongering: Reds Only Interested in Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at £20M

If you're the sort of Liverpool fan who pays attention to the buzz of transfer rumours, it's been hard to avoid talk of Alex Oxlade-Chamberain in recent weeks, with plenty of talk surrounding his potential move to Anfield and some calling the deal as good as done.

For some, reports Arsenal want up to £35M for him have given them pause, but there have been corresponding reports from the Liverpool end suggesting that with only one year to go on the player's contract, the cost would have to be much lower—closer to £20M, even.

Over the weekend, Goal.com reported that that was the target price-point that would interest Liverpool, and that with Chamberlain just one of the names on the club's shortlist, anything much more than that would have them looking elsewhere for midfield reinforcements.

With Liverpool also searching for a more dedicated attacker, the general consensus is that Chamberlain would arrive—if he arrives—primarily as second choice to Adam Lallana in the eight role, though his versatility would allow him to fill in elsewhere as needed.

As such, those Goal reports, courtesy of Melissa Reddy, paint the picture of a player who isn't Klopp's first priority in the transfer market. Rather, Chamberlain would be a quality depth signing and potential future signing, but only for the right price.

Liverpool's priorities are expected to be elsewhere, with a versatile and pacy attacker who can play anywhere across the top and provide a second speedy option for when Sadio Mané is unavailable and a starting calibre centre half the club's two main goals.

For most, the top names then remain Julian Brandt and Virgil van Dijk. In midfield, Red Bull Leipzig's Naby Keita as well as Fulham left back Ryan Sessegnon are also reportedly considered more pressing targets than Chamberlain would be.