Three things Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain would bring to Liverpool

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England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has entered the final year of his contract with Arsenal and, with talks having stalled between player and club, according to the Liverpool Echo , an exit may be on the cards this summer.

The Gunners won’t risk losing the England international for nothing next summer, and therefore, unless there is a breakthrough in negotiations, they will listen to offers of around £25 million.

As reported by the Independent, Liverpool are among those clubs who are thought to be interested, with Jurgen Klopp said to be a long-term admirer of the player. So, what would he bring to the Merseyside club?

Strength in depth

Much was made of Klopp’s spending last summer, most notably that his squad in the 2016/17 campaign was very thin. The Reds were especially unfortunate with injuries, as the likes of Phillipe Coutinho, Sadio Mane, Adam Lallana and Jordan Henderson all faced lengthy spells on the side-line.

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Liverpool’s team was stripped to its bare bones and Klopp was forced to rely on the likes of Lucas Leiva and Divock Origi to fill in the gaps. Although they are useful players, they should not be starters for a club like the Anfield outfit.

The potential signing of Oxlade-Chamberlain would bring much quality to Klopp’s squad and also much-needed depth. The 23-year-old is a fantastic player to bring off the bench if Philippe Coutinho, Adam Lallana or Sadio Mane were ever to come off injured.

Flexibility

In his time at the Gunners, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been required to play in various positions. This season alone he has played in a holding two, on the right and left wing, as well as at right-wing-back. This versatility is something Klopp really likes in a player.

In a Liverpool squad that isn’t blessed with depth, the Englishman’s ability to cover a wide range of positions may be a very important trait for the player and the Reds. He offers a great deal of quality wherever he plays, which makes him a great buy for the Anfield outfit, who struggled when they lost Sadio Mane to the African Cup of Nations.

Pace

When Liverpool lost the aforementioned Senegal man Sadio Mane, their side was suddenly without pace and this was noticeable in the team’s inability to break sides down.

The Reds became very predictable, with their majority of their play happening in front of the opposition’s defence due to no one running in behind. This left Klopp’s men struggling to score. The evidence is clear to see when looking at their January results last campaign.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, with his pace, is a clear solution to this issue. He is as comfortable using his speed to get beyond opposition defences as he is in using it to beat his man. When he does get past his marker, his final ball is often good. It’s an aspect of his game that has improved massively over recent seasons.

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