Given Chelsea’s thin squad and urgent need for reinforcements this transfer window, every transfer saga has seemed long-drawn. It appears that the one surrounding Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has reached its conclusion, though, with a multitude of sources reporting that Chelsea have finally agreed a fee with Arsenal.
Oxlade-Chamberlain fee agreed with Chelsea. #CFC
— Nizaar Kinsella (@NizaarKinsella) August 28, 2017
The Ox is incoming.
— Dan Levene (@danlevene) August 28, 2017
The rumoured fee for the highly versatile 24-year-old is in the region of £35m, which is by no means an entirely unreasonable amount in today’s market, all things considered.
Chelsea fee for Oxlade-Chamberlain will be £35m give or take the odd add-on
— Matt Law (@Matt_Law_DT) August 28, 2017
It’s been made clear for a while now that Chamberlain has been looking to leave Arsenal, refusing to sign an extension to his current deal that expires next summer. Arsene Wenger has also publicly stated that he’d have no qualms about letting key players see out their contracts, but his resolve appeared to be waning a little when he spoke about Chamberlain’s responsibility towards the club, last Thursday. But as the transfer window nears its end, it appears he has forced a move away from the club after all.
The Telegraph also reports that personal terms are yet to be agreed between Chelsea and Chamberlain, and the club will be looking to wrap up the deal before Thursday, which is when the transfer window slams (SLAMS!) shut with other deals involving the likes of Fernando Llorente, Ross Barkley and Danny Drinkwater in mind.
Chamberlain is an important signing to get over the line, as he would immediately provide depth in multiple positions including wing-back, central midfield and attacking midfield, thus being an extremely useful addition to the squad. More so, he’d also double up as a home-grown option, which Chelsea seem to be lacking after the departures of Nathaniel Chalobah, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Nathan Ake and Asmir Begovic.
Well, it’s happening!