Chelsea growing confident in reaching deal for Oxlade-Chamberlain — report

As per the latest report from Telegraph's Matt Law, Chelsea are growing increasingly confident in getting a deal done Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, despite Arsenal apparently giving in to his demands and putting a £180,000-per-week contract offer on table, more than doubling his current earnings. With Wenger publicly calling for his loyalty, it is now up to the Ox to decide his future. He previously told the Gunners that he is not willing to extend his stay at the Emirates, but that was before wages above what Chelsea were rumored to be prepared to pay (£125-150k) started to be thrown around.

Chelsea's £35 million bid for the versatile player has not been acknowledged specifically, but Wenger did more or less confirm the Chelsea interest yesterday. That said, the Arsenal manager remains prepared to keep the 24-year-old even with his contract expiring next summer, when Ox could walk for free.

All in all, there is probably positive development in the background as far as Chelsea are concerned, with Conte supposedly personally pushing the club to try to get this deal over the finishing line.

The Ox would be a very welcome arrival at Stamford Bridge this summer, but there are factors involved that are simply out of Chelsea's or Conte's control. But if the stars align, if the bid is good enough, with wages to match, and if Oxlade-Chamberlain is willing, we might just be able to force Arsenal's hand in the next seven days.