Former Southampton, Arsenal, Liverpool and Besiktas midfielder [Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain](https://www.claretandhugh.info/oxlade-chamberlain-misses-irons-clash/) is one of only a very few current midfielders with whom West Ham have _not_ been linked this summer, such is the rumour factory as the transfer window nears its climax.
The Ox, now 31, has just departed Turkish side Besiktas under a bit of a cloud and is hoping to make it back to football in England: Most likely he’ll be dropping down to the championship and hearsay suggests several clubs are on notice.
However, apparently Oxlade-Chamberlain _deserves a vote of thanks_ from the Hammers board for his ‘undercover’ role in helping the Hammers hijack Besiktas’ deal for Kyle Walker-Peters, according to a new report out today.
According to the people at _[insidefutbol.com](https://insidefutbol.com/2025/08/11/former-southampton-man-shared-negative-information-helping-west-ham-land-star/690931/)_, the Ox was instrumental in helping Kyle Walker-Peters’ make up his mind about canning the proposed move to Turkey:
_“Former Southampton Man ‘Shared Negative Information’, Helping West Ham Land Star”_ is their article that recounts the full story.
_“It appears that former Saint Oxlade-Chamberlain may well have had an influence on Walker-Peters ultimately rejecting Bestikas in favour of West Ham….__According to Turkish daily Milliyet (via Ajansspor), Oxlade-Chamberlain ‘shared negative information’ about Besiktas with Walker-Peters.”
_
The official line put out at the time was that Walker-Peters’ partner didn’t want to go to Turkey.
The reality now appears somewhat different as Oxlade-Chamberlain evidently passed on a few uncomfortable truths about his own time in Turkey which convinced ‘KWP’ to pick up the phone to his agent, sharpish.
Good man!