Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard has hailed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s move from Arsenal to Liverpool as a very positive one. Gerrard further backed the England international to give the best years of his career at Anfield.
Liverpool finalised a reported £35million move for the 24-year-old on the deadline day that made him Klopp’s fourth summer signing, following the arrivals of Andrew Robertson, Dominic Solanke and Mohamed Salah. Oxlade-Chamberlain signed a five-year contract, worth £120,000-a-week with the Reds and took a significant loss in terms of wages.
The Gunners had offered him a reported £180,000-a-week contract, but Chamberlain was keen on moving away from the club as he didn’t want to play as a wing-back. Chelsea and the Gunners agreed a £40million move for the 24-year-old, but the move failed to materialise as Oxlade-Chamberlain rejected their approach, as he believed the Blues boss Antonio Conte would use him as a wing-back as well.
This gave Liverpool an upper hand and Arsenal had to bear a £5million loss as Liverpool only paid £35million for the midfielder. Talking about the move, former Red Steven Gerrard heaped praises on the midfielder and said (as quoted by Goal):
“I think he’s already become a fantastic player, and that’s the reason why we spent 35 million pounds on him.”
“I think he definitely strengthens the group and the team. “He’s English, he’s 24, he’s just coming into his peak years. He’s a very quick and exciting player.
“He seems as if he wasn’t happy at Arsenal, so now hopefully he can settle down, give the best years of his career at Liverpool Football Club. But I think he’s a very, very positive signing.”
A lot has been said about his move to Anfield and the majority of spectators have been discussing his best position in Klopp’s 4-3-3. Should it be in midfield, he will have to compete with the likes of Jordan Henderson, Emre Can and Gini Wijnaldum, which certainly is a tough task. Klopp, however, was of a different conception and said that Chamberlain is someone who is willing to take risks and the perfect specimen of it is the fact that he decided to quit one big club to join another.
“I hear a lot of talk about positions but let’s talk about the player; he is someone with really good abilities who always gives everything for his team. A player that is positive and willing to take risks to try and make positive things happen,” Klopp was quoted as saying by the Guardian.
“He may still be young but he has a lot of experience in the Premier League, Champions League and for his country. Already he is a very, very good player and I think he has the mentality and desire to get even better – and that excites me.
“This is someone making a tough decision to leave one great club and come to another great club and I think he had many options, so to get him means I am delighted. He didn’t make an easy decision but I think he made a great one to go on this journey with this squad of talented boys and our great supporters.”
It remains to be seen where Klopp will actually field the 23-year old, who is currently away on international duty with the England national team. But, if he realises his potential, the Ox can prove to be a great addition for the Reds.
