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This is shaping up to be a crazy end to the summer transfer window, isn’t it? Liverpool continue looking to strengthen their midfield depth, perhaps going as high as £75 million and one Divock Origi for Monaco’s Thomas Lemar. However, after Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain turned down a £40 million move to Chelsea in hopes of securing a move to Anfield, it appears that the Reds have options.
Oxlade-Chamberlain turns down Chelsea, wants to join #LFC. Their move for Thomas Lemar is ongoing but it's one or t'other. Not both.
— Ben Smith (@BSmith) August 30, 2017
To be clear, Liverpool are looking to only sign one of the two players, and it appears that Lemar continues to be the preferred choice.
If the Lemar move breaks down and Liverpool move on to Oxlade-Chamberlain, it appears that the Reds do not want to match Chelsea’s transfer fee. Oxlade-Chamberlain is in the last year of his contract, and his £40 million valuation seems more than Liverpool are willing to pay.
According to The Echo, a decision over which midfielder to continue pursuing will be made today.