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Liverpool News: Graeme Souness reveals why Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain snubbed Chelsea
GRAEME SOUNESS feels Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain didn’t join Chelsea because he did not want to play as a wing-back.
Oxlade-Chamberlain puts England ahead against Scotland
Oxlade-Chamberlain came close to joining the Blues this season but opted to leave Arsenal for Liverpool instead.
Chelsea had even agreed a £35million fee for the England international but he snubbed a move to Stamford Bridge in favour of working with Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
And former Reds legend Souness feels it was down to where Oxlade-Chamberlain wanted to play.
Had Oxlade-Chamberlain gone to Chelsea he would have likely been used as a wing-back in Antonio Conte’s 3-4-3 formation - whereas the former Arsenal star would prefer to play in a more attacking role.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain chose to join Liverpool over Chelsea
Today, £30-40m is buying you a good player, but not a top man
Souness also believes in today’s market the Merseyside outfit have overpaid for Oxlade-Chamberlain after forking out £35m.
“Today, £30-40m is buying you a good player, but not a top man,” Souness wrote in The Sunday Times.
“The initial £35m that Liverpool have paid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a very high figure for a player coming to the end of his contract at Arsenal.
Graeme Souness thinks Liverpool overpaid for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
“Oxlade-Chamberlain chose Liverpool rather than Chelsea because he did not want to be a wing-back. He sees himself dropping the shoulder and going past people in the central midfield area. I don’t see him as a wing-back either. He is the wrong shape for it.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain could make his Liverpool debut when the reds take on Manchester City on Saturday (12.30pm).
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