Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is due in Glasgow on Saturday to undergo a medical ahead of a move to Celtic, which will see his time back at former club Arsenal come to an end
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks on prior to during a training session
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with Arsenal recently(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will undergo a medical on Saturday ahead of a transfer to Celtic. Oxlade-Chamberlain has been without a club since seeing his contract with Besiktas terminated in August, but finally looks to have found a new club.
The 32-year-old midfielder has been training with his former club Arsenal recently in order to stay fit since returning from Turkey. He has been linked with Championship side Birmingham, as well as Premier League club Leeds, with his free agent status making him an attractive prospect.
There has even been the suggestion that Arsenal could offer him a short-term deal until the end of the 2025/26 season after losing Mikel Merino to injury. However, Celtic boss Martin O'Neill confirmed in a press conference on Friday that the Scottish giants had won the race.
"I spoke to him this morning," said O'Neill. "I think he wants to come. I think he's coming. I would have assumed he's got a lot of options. There was talk at Arsenal because they might pick up injuries. I'm delighted he's going to come. I think he's doing a medical tomorrow and all being well, I hope he signs up.
"I think the football club itself has convinced him more than anything else. We might be having this conversation in the next 48 hours and he might come up and see what the weather's like and head back down."
Oxlade-Chamberlain and his representatives have held positive talks in recent days over a move to Glasgow. But he won't be involved in Celtic's all-important Europa League clash with Stuttgart on February 19 because he will be joining after the player registration deadline.
Celtic are due to face the German side in a two-legged play-off for a place in the last 16 of the Europa League after the group stage. O'Neill's side face Dundee in the Scottish Cup on Saturday evening before a Premiership game against Livingston on Wednesday, when Oxlade-Chamberlain could make his debut.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain looks on
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was previously playing for Besiktas(Image: Ulrik Pedersen/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)
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He will join January signings Junior Adamu, Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur at Celtic, who sit third in the Premiership table, three points behind bitter rivals Rangers and six adrift of leaders Hearts, following a turbulent campaign.
"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," O'Neill said on Tuesday when asked about Oxlade-Chamberlain.
"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."
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