LIVERPOOL HAVE AGREED a fee in the region of £40 million with Arsenal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who rejected Chelsea to secure a move to Anfield.
The England international is expected to undergo a medical at St George’s Park ahead of finalising a five-year deal with the Reds.
This is the situation Antonio Conte had feared after reaching a £40m accord with the Gunners on Monday for the 24-year-old.
The Blues boss wanted to speed through the process of completing the transfer so the Premier League champions would not get usurped by Liverpool late on.
Arsenal had preferred to see the versatile player – in the final year of his contract – at Stamford Bridge, having informed Jurgen Klopp’s side earlier in the window there would be no transaction between the clubs.
However, Oxlade-Chamberlain delayed having physical checks or working through any of the other formalities to tie up matters with Chelsea, before expressing his desire to join Liverpool instead.
The north Londoners had to reverse their stance and open talks with the Merseysiders, who have long held an interest in the Southampton academy graduate.
He was not a priority target for them in this window, but elevates the competition across several positions in the squad. The outlay is more than Liverpool originally intended to spend by £10m, but the current market climate has dictated as such.
Oxlade-Chamberlain believes he will have the opportunity to operate in his favoured midfield role more under Klopp if he impresses.
He would become the fourth new acquisition at Anfield if things progress as planned, following Mohamed Salah, Dominic Solanke and Andy Robertson.
Liverpool have also secured RB Leipzig dynamo Naby Keita in a club-record deal for next summer.
They are continuing negotiations with Monaco over a deal in excess of £70m inclusive of add-ons for Thomas Lemar, while no bid has yet been made for Southampton’s Virgil van Dijk.
-Omni
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That’s a pretty misleading headline in fairness. You’ve taken him out of context there
I don’t think ‘These games are great for practicing’ is taking anything out of context.
It looks like a poor attempt to paint the bloke in a negative, unsporting light.
I’d have to disagree there. A small change turns an innocuous comment about the nature of the autumn series into a dig at Ireland, as if he considered the match as nothing more strenuous than a warm-up with a practice squad. Needless sensationalism, in my own humble opinion.
Yeah, bad headline
The headline says “Ireland were great for practicing against, declares hooper”
What he actually said was “these games are great for practising and getting systems in place”
He made no specific reference to Ireland as opposed to any other team they play this autumn, but from reading the headline you would think he was disrespecting Ireland.
In fairness Patrick your usually fair enough but I think your off the mark this time.
The headline says “Ireland were great for practicing against, declares hooper”
What he actually said was “these games are great for practising and getting systems in place”
He made no specific reference to Ireland as opposed to any other team they play this autumn, but from reading the headline you would think he was disrespecting Ireland.
In fairness Patrick your usually fair enough but I think your off the mark this time.
I agree it is misleading…looking to stir something up…
Totally agree. The headline says something totally different to what the article reports. Headline suggests they totally disrespected Ireland which couldn’t be further from the truth judging by his full comment.
Incorrect Patrick, there’s quite a bit of difference between the two statements and the headline suggests a personal lack of sportsmanship directed specifically at Ireland.
The Journal, sharp in it’s early incarnation, has become increasingly sloppy with headlines and content over the last while and is no longer first port of call here for news or sport.
Another misleading headline
He did not mention ireland at all.
my granny would walk through that irish defence
She must be quick
Your headline is f@#kin joke. Typical. This site is gone to hell!
Has thejournal got a new editor recently? The headlines lately are ridiculous.
I’m really starting to get annoyed with the sensational tabloid headlines
Headline completely out of context. Trying to justify it is even worse.
Cheers for the comments and feedback. We have changed the headline to reflect Hooper’s drive to win three Tests in a row, for the first time, with the green & golds.
Cowboy
This site is getting worse by the day. Sad effort of a headline in fairness. No need for it.
Lmao…He just telling the truth…
It’s common sense what he’s saying
The score/the Sun
The Score is quickly slipping into Tabloid territory, come on lads, clean it up!
He’s right In a way! You could practice anything you like against that irish team?