Liverpool’s insistence that they won’t buy a midfielder this summer should mean a re-evaluation of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s future.
According to The Times, amongst others, Liverpool are happy to wait until next year to strengthen their midfield.
After previously going after Aurelien Tchouameni it was thought that Jurgen Klopp was keen to do business this window. However, that now appears not to be the case.
Had Tchouameni, or anyone else, been brought in, it would have been incredibly unlikely that Oxlade-Chamberlain would stick around. But now that a pin has been put in that plan, he can still be very useful to Liverpool.
Oxlade-Chamberlain out in the cold
There were reports immediately after the season’s end that Liverpool were ready to offload Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Having not featured for the final two months of the season, it’s fair to say that he’s on the periphery of Klopp’s squad. On top of that he’s now entering the last year of his deal.
Turning twenty-nine this summer, it felt like the right time for everyone to part ways.
There have been claims that Liverpool would be willing to do business at as low as £10m for Ox. Manchester United have even been linked with an audacious swoop for him.
As Liverpool may have been expecting an extra body for him to compete with in the centre of the pitch, it was understandable. But suddenly The Reds may be looking a little short.
No reason for another blow to the dressing room
From a business point of view, now would be the time to sell. But Liverpool have often shown that they have no problem allowing players to leave on a free having run down their contract.
If Liverpool are only expecting around £10m for Oxlade-Chamberlain, maybe it’s worth it to keep him on the books.
He was actually very good in parts last season. As Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah left for AFCON, Ox was surprisingly the main main up-front.
His ability to play wide as well as offer more cut-and-thrust in midfield than some of his teammates make him a different kind of option for Klopp.
If he does stay for another year, he’ll also be desperate to prove that he deserves to be there. He’ll either be playing for an extension at Liverpool or a new contract elsewhere.
That may lead to Liverpool getting some crucial performances, and goals, out of the man signed in 2017.
He’s also supposedly a ‘hugely popular’ member of the squad. As The Reds lose Mane and Divock Origi this summer, it may be too much to also see another player who has been at the club for some time head out the door.
Much may depend on what offers arrive for Ox. But if nothing reasonable comes Liverpool’s way, they’d be better off keeping him for another year.
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