The former Arsenal and Liverpool player is wanted by Celtic boss Martin O’Neill.
Celtic have been backed to make a free agency pounce on a Premier League winner of the past - but there’s a big question mark over fitness.
Hoops boss Martin O’Neill has confirmed that he would be interested in a deal for midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has been out of contract since leaving Turkish side Besiktas last season. He has been training at former club Arsenal most recently and previously won the Premier League with Liverpool, as well as the Champions League at Arsenal.
Peter Grant, a Celtic legend who still does broadcast work for the club’s in-house media, reckons it would be a good signing for the current Premiership champions. That said, his lack of minutes in the last 12 months are the only question mark over any possible deal for the attack-minded ace.
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Grant said on Go Radio: “He's a talented player. I don't know how he's been playing recently. Obviously has been out of work in the respect of that. I think he's been training at Arsenal. But when he was at his best he was a very good player, because he could play midfield, he could play numerous positions and play them well.
“You wouldn't say he was a right winger, you wouldn't say he was a central midfield player. He just played in that forward area of the pitch. He was strong and obviously he's got a football background. I remember his father very well. So you look at it and you think he's got the background, but yet again the big question mark is, where's his fitness?
Former Rangers forward Jamie Murphy was on the panel and added: “That would be a good signing. I mean, these type of players have got great experience, played at a high level, played for their country.
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“That's the kind of people Celtic should be looking to sign. I know he's a little bit older than probably they would have liked if it was to be perfect, but he's had a great career. He still looks fit. Obviously he is not going to be fresh because he hasn't had a team.Is he going to come in and play every week to start with? Probably not, but could he do a job for Celtic? Yeah, definitely.”
O’Neill said on a deal: "I've spoken to him, but I'm sure he has plenty of options, maybe closer to London. I'd be very interested in doing it. I'm surprised people haven't taken him up. I think he was very excited about what we were saying. He knows all about the club, he's a big friend of Joe Hart and Joe has spoken to him - not on our behalf. It's something we're interested in but if it doesn't materialise, it doesn't materialise."
Next up for Celtic is Dundee in the Scottish Cup. Their Premiership clash at Aberdeen was postponed on Wednesday due to a waterlogged pitch at their Pittodrie Stadium amid heavy rain.
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