Celtic were linked on Tuesday with former England internationalAlex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with reports suggesting the free agent could still be an option despite the January transfer window now being closed.
Because Oxlade-Chamberlain is without a club, Celtic would not have needed to complete any deal before the deadline. His situation mirrors that of Kelechi Iheanacho, who joined the Hoops as a free agent in the summer after his contract was ripped up. That leaves the door open for potential movement in the coming days or weeks, should Celtic decide the former Liverpool midfielder is worth the gamble.
The 31-year-old has not played a competitive match in over 265 days following his departure from Beşiktaş in August. Since then, he has been training at Arsenal, keeping his fitness levels up while assessing his next move. There has even been speculation that Arsenal themselves could step in with a short-term deal.
Arsenal are currently light in midfield after Mikel Merino suffered a broken foot. The Gunners explored options late in the window and were briefly linked with Sandro Tonali, although that rumour was quickly dismissed.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s presence at London Colney would make any potential move straightforward. Asked about the possibility of re-signing the midfielder, Mikel Arteta said: “We explore every option.” [The Sun]
Arsenal ultimately failed to bring in midfield cover before the deadline, which may yet keep Oxlade-Chamberlain’s situation in flux. From a Celtic perspective, the free agent status means the option remains live, even if nothing is imminent.
Interim boss Martin O’Neill is due to face the media this afternoon ahead of Wednesday’s trip north, and questions around Celtic’s interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain are likely to feature heavily.
Tees for Tims