Newcastle United were interested in signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Liverpool in January, but the player didn’t want to go.
That’s according to The Times. They claim that Oxlade-Chamberlain had ‘little incentive’ to leave Liverpool in the winter, despite the interest being there.
The report also claims that it ‘probably remains the case’ that the 28-year-old has no intention of moving.
It could reportedly be that Ox goes in search of more first-team football this summer. But it’s claimed that leaving Liverpool would ‘be difficult’ for him.
Stubborn as an Ox
It’s heartening to hear that Oxlade-Chamberlain is willing to keep on with his fight for more game time for Liverpool.
Newcastle are newly rich and they would surely have been able to at least match his wages for The Reds. But the England man obviously has his heart set on belatedly becoming a starter for Jurgen Klopp.
Some would say that’s something that’s never going to happen. He has never started more than five games in a row for Liverpool. If that hasn’t happened almost five years into his career at the club, then it probably never will.
Regardless, it’s a good attitude to have and shows the strength of character that Ox possesses.
At times though, that willingness to fight his way into the team can lead to erratic performances where he tries too hard to catch the eye.
If he was able to accept a role as a squad player then he would be a very good player to have around.
But judging by his reaction to being withdrawn during the FA Cup quarter-final win over Nottingham Forest, he feels that he should have a bigger role.
Something has to give
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract runs out in 2023. The Times report that it would be ‘no surprise’ if his situation was left unresolved over this summer.
That could mean that Liverpool run the risk of losing the man who cost £35m for nothing next summer. Something has to give.
We all want Ox to prove himself to be capable of starting on a regular basis for Liverpool. He’s a likeable player and has been brilliant at times for the club.
But it feels as though he may have to move on in order to get the game time he craves.
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