Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is expected to leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season.
According to a report from reputed Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano, Liverpool are set to part ways with 29-year-old midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain when his contract expires in June.
The former Arsenal midfielder has been plagued with injuries since his move to Anfield. And he will depart at the end of the season, having failed to live up to the expectations.
When Oxlade-Chamberlain arrived from Arsenal back in 2017, there were major expectations surrounding him, and the midfielder managed to make an immediate impact. However, a serious knee injury against AS Roma in 2018 ended his chances of fulfilling his tremendous potential at the Merseyside club.
The Englishman was a key member of Liverpool’s starting lineup during his initial days. But he has never managed to get over his persistent injury problems after the setback against Roma in the Champions League.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, expected to leave Liverpool in 2023 as free agent. There are no talks to extend his contract as things stand. 🚨🔴 #LFC
New midfielders will be the priority for Liverpool on the market next year. pic.twitter.com/PPIDhbFN6I
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) November 20, 2022
Oxlade-Chamberlain still has a lot of time to get his career back on track. And a move away from Liverpool could do the 29-year-old midfielder a world of good. He has fallen down the pecking order at Anfield, and it is understandable why the Reds do not want to extend his stay by offering an extension.
The former Arsenal ace needs to join a club where he can play regular first-team football, and he has been linked with a return to Southampton in recent weeks. It will be interesting to see where Oxlade-Chamberlain ends up eventually.
The English international could still be a key player for a mid-table Premier League if he manages to get over his injury problems and stay fit for a sustained period. Meanwhile, the Reds are expected to lose Naby Keita when his contract expires as well. It remains to be seen where the Guinean international ends up.
Liverpool will need to bring in a number of midfield reinforcements next summer, and they have been linked with players like Jude Bellingham and Declan Rice in recent weeks. Both players would be an upgrade on the likes of Oxlade-Chamberlain and Keita.