Arsenal Open to Negotiating Oxlade-Chamberlain Liverpool Transfer

Despite previously signalling they would not sell Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to Liverpool, following the player’s decision to block a £40M Chelsea move because he favours joining Jürgen Klopp’s Reds, Arsenal are now willing to do a deal according to The Mirror’s John Cross.

If true, it could also signal a willingness by Arsenal to accept a £30M transfer fee from Liverpool for the player rather than risk losing him on a free next summer, as Liverpool have signalled that they would not be willing to pay more than that amount for a player who has just a year to run on his current contract.

However, while Cross is a journalist with ties to Arsenal and may be reporting things as they stand on the Arsenal end, Liverpool appear to still believe a deal can be done to land Monaco’s Thomas Lemar, who remains their midfield priority with less than 48 hours to go in the transfer window.

French reports claim Monaco and Liverpool are currently meeting to try to hash out an agreement, and if Lemar can be signed it would be difficult to imagine Oxlade-Chamberlain also arriving. The Times’ Ben Smith, though, believes there is a slim chance both could be signed.

Elsewhere, Liverpool remain interested in Southampton centre half Virgil van Dijk and hope to sign him before Thursday evening, and the club continue to insist both through the media and via club officials that Philippe Coutinho will not be sold.