Southampton are keen on bringing midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back to the club this summer but face competition from a host of Championship rivals, according to EFL Analysis.
The 31-year-old was the latest in a long line of talent to emerge through the academy at St Mary’s, making his debut at just 16 in 2010. He became a regular fixture of the starting lineup during the 2010/11 season, helping the club earn promotion from League One.
His form caught the eye of a number of Premier League clubs and he eventually earned a move to Arsenal in the summer of 2011 for an initial fee of £12 million. This led to him picking up the first of 35 England caps in 2012 and he eventually racked up just short of 198 appearances for the Gunners before a £35 million transfer to Liverpool in 2017.
Despite a trophy-laden spell at Anfield, the midfielder eventually fell down the pecking order and was released at the end of his contract in 2023. He then opted to move to Turkey with Besiktas, but had his contract cancelled by mutual consent yesterday amid rumours of a return to England.
Oxlade-Chamberlain Release Alerts Championship Clubs
It’s not often a player with so much Premier League pedigree becomes available to clubs in the Championship, but it appears as if a host of second tier clubs are interested in acquiring Oxlade-Chamberlain’s services. It is claimed that Southampton are keen on bringing him back to Hampshire, but face competition from a host of division rivals.
According to transfer expert Graeme Bailey, Scottish giants are also keen, whilst Leicester City, Stoke City, Birmingham City, Ipswich Town, Sheffield United and Coventry City have all been formed of his sudden availability. This could spark a summer scramble, but it is also claimed that the player could bide his time to see if an offer from England’s top tier surfaces.
Oxlade-Chamberlain contributed 10 goals and nine assists in just 43 outings for his boyhood club during his first stint at Southampton.
Writer’s View
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would be an excellent signing for Southampton and it would also represent a chance to add a fairytale finish to his career. Although he will feel he still has plenty of years in the tank, there’s no denying that it has been a tough few seasons for the former England international and this would represent a glorious opportunity to show that he still has it. Although the preference would surely be to return to the Premier League, his former club will feel that this is something they will be able to offer him in the future. Despite their dreadful campaign last season, which saw them rack up a mere 12 points, they are still one of the favourites to challenge for promotion in the Championship.
