Could Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain Make Manchester United Move?

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been linked with a shock move from Liverpool to Manchester United.

TalkSPORT’s football correspondent Alex Crook wrote in his Transfer Notebook that; “Manchester United are contemplating a surprise raid on bitter rivals, Liverpool, for want-away Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

If Liverpool are willing to accept a knockdown fee of £10m, the Red Devils would be seriously interested in bringing Oxlade-Chamberlain across the north-west.”

Given the rivalry between the two clubs, it is not a well-trodden path to play for both. However, Michael Owen, Paul Ince and Peter Beardsley have all done it in the past. However, no one has moved directly from one to the other since Paul Chisnall in 1964.

Why Would Manchester United Make a Move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?

Manchester United need to strengthen their midfield with the departures of Paul Pogba, Jesse Lingard, Nemanja Matic and Juan Mata.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has made just 17 appearances in the Premier League this season with just two goals and one assist. Jurgen Klopp also left him on the bench in their Champions League final defeat to Real Madrid. He also did not feature in either the League Cup or FA Cup finals this year, which Liverpool won.

His time at Anfield has seen him lift both the Premier League and Champions League but the time has come to make sure he gets playing time as he is still just 28.

This is also not the first time he has been linked to Manchester United. Sir Alex Ferguson was reported in the Daily Mail saying, “Alex Chamberlain is only young but he has potential”. This was when the player was still at Southampton before he made his move to the Gunners.

What Are Alex Oxlade Chamberlain’s Options?

There will be other options for Oxlade-Chamberlain with John Cross in the Mirror reporting that Aston Villa and West Ham are also interested in signing him. Cross claimed that the two clubs were “front runners” in the race to sign him.

West Ham and Aston Villa may be safer options for the player as he is well respected at Liverpool and would not want to ruin his legacy with the fans. He has not played for England since 2019, where he assisted Harry Winks’ opening goal in a 4-0 victory over Kosovo.

The only major tournament he has featured in was Euro 2012 under Roy Hodgson. He started England’s first match against France before making substitute appearances against Sweden and Ukraine. However, he was left on the bench as the Three Lions crashed out to Italy on penalties in the quarter-finals.

It is a World Cup year and all players, not just Chamberlain, want to take part on the world’s biggest stage. The midfielder should be in the prime of his career and needs game time to show Gareth Southgate what he can do.

Worryingly for the attack-minded player, he faces tough competition in midfield that includes the likes of Jack Grealish, Mason Mount, Raheem Sterling and Bukayo Sako.