Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: Celtic to finalise move for ex-Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder with player due in Glasgow | Football News
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is due to travel to Glasgow on Friday and is expected to complete his move to Celtic.
Sky Sports News revealed earlier on Thursday that the Scottish champions were in advanced talks over a deal for the former Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder.
Celtic and Oxlade-Chamberlain are close to agreeing a six-month contract, with an option to extend for a further year.
However, it is believed there are still details to be ironed out – and he will not be signed in time to beat Thursday night’s Europa League team registration deadline.
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Chris Sutton meets Martin O’Neill to discuss the manager’s second spell in charge this season, hoping for ‘reconciliation’ between club and fans, recruitment issues, January transfers, Hearts being title favorites and more.
But Celtic are relaxed about the situation as he is unlikely to be included in their European squad, and both sides are willing to reach an agreement.
Sky Sports News revealed Celtic’s interest in the 32-year-old earlier this week, with manager Martin O’Neill confirming he had held talks with the player during his press conference on Tuesday.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with former club Arsenal since the mutual termination of his contract with Turkish club Besiktas in August.
He said goodbye to the Arsenal first team at their London Colney base earlier today.
Asked if the 35-times capped England player was someone he liked, the Celtic boss replied: “Yes. I really like him. Yes. He has trained at Arsenal for a while since his time in Turkey.
“Fitness-wise, it’s not match form, but that’s OK. We’ll see. And look, he’s got plenty of options.
“I think he was very excited about what we were saying. He knows the football club. He’s a great friend of Joe Hart and Joe spoke to him. Not on our behalf. It was just a conversation with Joe.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain has 35 caps for England
Celtic face Dundee in the Scottish Cup on Saturday, after Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership match at Aberdeen was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
They will face Stuttgart in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs on February 19, with the registration deadline for the tie falling at midnight on Thursday.
Five players joined the Hoops on loan during the January transfer window. Four of them – Tomas Cvancara, Junior Adamu, Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur – were signed under O’Neill.