Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has arrived in Glasgow ahead of his medical at Celtic.
Martin O’Neill yesterday revealed that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to complete a move to Celtic, with a medical scheduled for today. The former England international has now arrived in the city and all going well will complete his move to Celtic later today.
However, the former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder has NOT be registered for the club’s Europa League campaign. The 32-year-old free agent has reportedly agreed terms on a contract until the end of the season after discussions with O’Neill in recent days.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been without competitive football since leaving Besiktas in May, though he has been maintaining his fitness by training with his former club Arsenal.
O’Neill believes the experienced England international – who has earned 35 caps – could provide a significant boost to Celtic’s midfield once fully match fit.
Speaking via Celtic’s official YouTube channel* ahead of the Hoops’ Scottish Cup tie against Dundee, Martin O’Neill said: “I spoke to him this morning. I think he wants to come and I think he’s coming.”
“I would have assumed he’s had a number of options. I think there was even talk that Arsenal might take him on because they might pick up a couple of injuries.”
“So I’m delighted that he’s going to come. I think he’s doing a medical and all being well, I’m hoping that he signs on.”
Ex-Celtic fans favourite Joe Hart is understood to have played a key role in encouraging his former England colleague to make the move to the Scottish champions.
When asked about Hart’s influence, O’Neill responded: “I think the football club itself probably has convinced him more than anything else.”
“If indeed it is convincing. We might be having this conversation in 36 hours and he might come up here, see what the weather’s like and disappear back down again quite easily! There are a few who have done that in the past!”
“He’s been training, if everything is to be believed, with Arsenal. Well, at this minute Arsenal are one of the strongest teams in Europe. So if he’s training with high-quality players, it can only be a benefit to him.”
“If they even thought about taking him on as a backup, probably not playing for them at any stage because they’ve got so many good players, it says a lot about him.”
“He’s got a bit of quality. It’s whether he has the fitness and the desire. I think the desire should be there. It’s a matter of how quickly he gets up to speed.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain arrived too late to be included in Celtic’s Europa League squad for Thursday’s deadline, missing the registration cut-off.
Instead, O’Neill opted to register January arrivals Julian Araujo, Tomas Cvancara and Junior Adamu for the Stuttgart clash, while Callum Osmand, Michel-Ange Balikwisha and Johnny Kenny were omitted from the squad.
O’Neill added: “I think there might be a bit of a disappointment there from Alex’s viewpoint, wanting to show what he can do in the European stage.”
“But, you know, we had to press on. But if he can get up to speed, I do believe that he has got the desire, he wants to do well. He’s 32, which is, in this day and age, really no age whatsoever for players who look after themselves.”
On the three players dropping out of the Europa League squad – Callum Osmand is injured and doesn’t look like coming back perhaps until next season. Johnny Kenny left in the transfer window to join Bolton Wanderers on loan and summer signing Michel-Ange Balikwisha has completely dropped out of the picture at Celtic and very much looks like a player we’ll have to cut our losses with in the simmer by offloading him on the cheap.