Celtic are reportedly preparing to rival Arsenal in the race to sign former Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a free transfer, setting up a potential cross-border tussle for the experienced Premier League winner.
Arsenal's Transfer Window Strategy
Arsenal approached the winter transfer window with a quiet strategy following their substantial £200 million summer spending spree, which was designed to strengthen their squad for a sustained Premier League title challenge. Manager Mikel Arteta entered the season with what appeared to be a complete and well-balanced squad, boasting significant depth across all positions.
The intention behind building such a robust roster was to ensure the team could withstand injury setbacks without requiring emergency reinforcements. However, this theory has been put to the test sooner than anticipated with the season-ending injury to midfielder Mikel Merino.
Merino Injury Forces Reconsideration
An official Arsenal statement confirmed the severity of Merino's situation: "Further to sustaining a foot injury towards the end of our game against Manchester United on January 25, subsequent assessments and specialist reviews have confirmed Mikel Merino has a bone injury in his right foot. Mikel will have surgery in the coming days and will then begin his recovery and rehabilitation programme. Mikel is expected to be out of action for an extended period, with the aim of returning to full training before the end of the season."
This significant loss prompted Arteta to reconsider his transfer stance on deadline day. The Spanish manager acknowledged: "Of course, when you lose a big player like this in the squad with four months to go and all the competitions to play for, you need to look and we need to do everything that we possibly can to see if we have a player that is available. If we don't, we keep what we have."
Oxlade-Chamberlain Emerges as Target
With unrealistic deadline day links to Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali failing to materialise, attention turned to available free agents. Former Arsenal favourite Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain quickly emerged as a potential solution.
The 32-year-old midfielder boasts considerable Premier League experience, having made 132 league appearances for Arsenal before transferring to Liverpool, where he added 103 more appearances and won the Premier League title. After a spell with Turkish side Besiktas that yielded 38 league appearances, Oxlade-Chamberlain was released in August and received compensation to terminate his contract.
Current Training Situation
Significantly, Oxlade-Chamberlain is currently training with Arsenal to maintain his fitness levels, providing Arteta with an opportunity to assess his condition firsthand. While the midfielder would likely serve as supplementary cover rather than a first-team regular, his familiarity with the club and available status make him an attractive short-term option.
As a free agent, the only deadline for any potential deal relates to Premier League squad registration, which typically occurs approximately one week after the transfer window closes, providing both clubs with additional time to negotiate.
Celtic Enter the Fray
According to Sky Sports News, Scottish Premiership giants Celtic have now entered the race for Oxlade-Chamberlain's signature. The Glasgow club are reportedly considering a free transfer move and could emerge as serious competition for Arsenal should the London club pursue a deal.
Celtic's potential appeal lies in their ability to offer more regular first-team football compared to what might be available at Arsenal. Currently sitting six points off the top spot in the Scottish Premiership, Brendan Rodgers' side could benefit significantly from the high-level experience and winning mentality that Oxlade-Chamberlain developed during his successful spell at Liverpool.
The former England international's Premier League-winning pedigree and versatility across midfield positions make him an attractive proposition for both clubs as they assess their options in the post-transfer window period.
