Celtic Football Club are making significant strides in their pursuit of former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with discussions advancing towards a potential free-agent signing. The Scottish Premiership champions are growing increasingly optimistic about securing the services of the 32-year-old England international, who has been without a club since August.
Talks Progress as Medical Looms
According to reports, positive negotiations could see Oxlade-Chamberlain undergo a medical examination as early as this weekend, should the current talks continue on a favourable trajectory. The player, who mutually terminated his contract with Turkish side Besiktas earlier this year, has been maintaining his fitness by training with his former club Arsenal.
Manager Confirms Discussions
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill addressed the speculation in his press conference on Tuesday, confirming that the club has held talks with the experienced midfielder. O'Neill noted that while Oxlade-Chamberlain lacks match sharpness, his general fitness levels are satisfactory following his training stint at Arsenal.
'He has trained at Arsenal for some time since his time in Turkey,' O'Neill stated. 'In terms of fitness, it's not match fitness, but it's fine. We'll see. And listen, he's got loads of options.'
Player Interest and Personal Connections
The manager revealed that Oxlade-Chamberlain appeared genuinely excited about Celtic's proposal and demonstrated strong familiarity with the historic football club. Interestingly, personal connections may be playing a role in the negotiations, with the midfielder being a close friend of current Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart.
'I think he was very excited about what we were saying. He knows about the football club,' O'Neill explained. 'He's a big friend of Joe Hart and Joe's spoken to him. Not on our behalf. It was just a conversation with Joe.'
Competition for Signature
Despite Celtic's advancing position in talks, the Daily Mail Sport reported that Oxlade-Chamberlain has multiple options to consider before making his final decision. The free-agent status of the former Premier League star makes him an attractive proposition for several clubs, though Celtic's status as Scottish champions and their participation in European competitions could prove decisive factors.
The potential signing represents a significant coup for Celtic as they look to strengthen their midfield options with experienced, quality additions. Oxlade-Chamberlain's versatility, having played across midfield positions and occasionally in wider roles during his career at Arsenal and Liverpool, would provide valuable tactical flexibility for O'Neill's squad.
