da bwin： According to reports in the Sunday Express, Chelsea could face competition from Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool as they look to step up their attempts to sign Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer.
What’s the word, then?
da imperador bet： Well, the Sunday Express says that the 23-year-old has told Gunners manager Arsene Wenger that he won’t be extending his current deal which is due to run out next summer, and the north London outfit must now decide whether then cash in on him now or risk losing him for nothing next year.
The Sunday Express says that the England international has been offered a new £100,000-a-week contract but he won’t sign it unless he is given guarantees that he will be first team regular in the upcoming season and beyond.
The report adds that Liverpool have been keeping close tabs on the situation but it now looks as though it will be a straight fight between the Premier League holders Chelsea and Manchester City for Oxlade-Chamberlain’s signature, with the former expected to launch a concrete offer in the next 48 hours.
How did Oxlade-Chamberlain do last season?
One of the midfielder’s frustrations since his move to the Emirates from Southampton in 2011 is the lack of progress he has made and the fact that he is still yet to find a preferred and regular spot in the Arsenal side.
The 23-year-old scored six goals and provided a further 11 assists in 45 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners last term but those outings came from a number of different positions, including on both wings, full-back, central midfield and on both wing-back roles.
It was in the latter that Oxlade-Chamberlain really impressed towards the end of last season as Wenger switched to a 3-4-2-1 formation, and the Three Lions star quickly made the spot his own.
Would he choose Chelsea over City?
It’s difficult to say but it could come down to guarantees over first team football and what position he would be or would prefer to be played in.
If Oxlade-Chamberlain is seen as a wing-back now then he would have every chance of overcoming Victor Moses in the Chelsea side, while he would have to beat off competition from Kyle Walker and Danilo at City, unless he was played in a more central role.