Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is set to complete a transfer to a new club with a medical taking place on Thursday having trained with Arsenal for the last couple of months
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with Arsenal
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with Arsenal(Image: Getty Images)
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Celtic are in advanced talks to sign former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The 32-year-old has been without a club since his contract was terminated at Besiktas in August.
He has been training with Arsenal over the last couple of months in an attempt to keep up his fitness amid his search for a new contract. Although there was some talk that the Gunners could sign him as a free agent, he is expected to instead make the move to the Scottish Premiership champions.
According to Sky Sports, Celtic are closing in on signing Oxlade-Chamberlain with a medical scheduled for the midfielder on Thursday afternoon. It's added that Martin O'Neill's side have beaten 'lots of competition' for his signature, with Birmingham City and Leeds United among the others linked.
It comes after O'Neill revealed he had held talks with the player in a press conference on Tuesday. Asked about Oxlade-Chamberlain, Celtic boss O'Neill said: "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."
Oxlade-Chamberlain had emerged as a short-term option for Arsenal after it was confirmed that Mikel Merino would need surgery on bone injury in his right foot. When asked about potentially signing Oxlade-Chamberlain, Arteta said on Monday: "We explore every option."
"[He is a] top. Top character," Arteta said earlier this season when the midfielder was training with Arsenal. "One of the best characters I've met in football.
"If we can help him and give him the space for him to get up to speed and have the capacity to find a club. It's a joy, the boys will learn from it. I had the privilege to play with him and if he is around he will be a really good role model to have around the team."
The Portsmouth-born midfielder first signed for Arsenal in a £15million deal from Southampton in 2011. He ended up spending six years at the Emirates Stadium, making 198 appearances and winning three FA Cups.
Oxlade-Chamberlain left the Gunners to sign for Liverpool in 2017 and he became a cult hero at Anfield, starring in their Premier League title-winning campaign in 2019/20 and winning a number of other major honours.
He departed the Reds at the end of his contract in 2023 and opted to move to Besiktas. With 50 appearances to his name across two seasons, Oxlade-Chamberlain left the Turkish club by mutual consent last August.
Now, after training with the Arsenal first-team since November, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been offered the chance to go up to Scotland and ply his trade at Celtic, who are chasing a fifth straight league title.