Rush The Kop
Fansided

Liverpool transfers: The 5 best alternatives to Naby Keita

By David Gate

SHANGHAI, CHINA - JULY 19: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal FC of Arsenal FC competes for the ball with Renato Sanches of FC Bayern during the 2017 International Champions Cup football match between FC Bayern and Arsenal FC at Shanghai Stadium on July 19, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images)
SHANGHAI, CHINA - JULY 19: Alex Iwobi of Arsenal FC of Arsenal FC competes for the ball with Renato Sanches of FC Bayern during the 2017 International Champions Cup football match between FC Bayern and Arsenal FC at Shanghai Stadium on July 19, 2017 in Shanghai, China. (Photo by Lintao Zhang/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
6 of 6
Next
Oxlade-Chamberlain Liverpool Keita
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA – JULY 15: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of Arsenal runs on field during the match between the Western Sydney Wanderers and Arsenal FC at ANZ Stadium on July 15, 2017 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Zak Kaczmarek/Getty Images) /

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

This remains the most likely option. Although Arsenal claiming they don’t want to sell him there has been no movement with him signing a new contract. The reports from his camp are that money is not the issue. The stumbling blocks have been over his position and playing time. He wants more opportunities in central midfield and he wants more minutes. Arsene Wenger cannot promise him either of those things.

The fanbase is pretty divided over signing Oxlade-Chamberlain. On the one hand it is signing and international with great Premier League and Champions League experience. It also weakens a rival which is always a huge plus. On the other hand he has not set the world alight with performances and has a bad injury record.

To address both of those negatives; last year was better for him on both fronts. He played more Premier League games than any other season of his career and was relatively healthy for the year. Also he made the most progress on the pitch. His development was one of few highlights for the Arsenal fans in a season marked by disappointment. The Gunner fanbase, by and large, want the club to re-sign him. That is a good omen for Liverpool.

If Klopp can reassure him about playing position and minutes then I think he would like to come to Anfield. In the wake of Arsenal’s FA cup victory he stated his desire to emulate his idol Steven Gerrard. That number 8 shirt is still vacant.

This is not a signing that would excite the fans or have them running out to buy Oxlade-Chamberlain shirts. It would cost a weeks wages just to get his name printed. However this maybe a pragmatic signing. The last time Klopp did that was with Gini Wijnaldum. And that turned out okay.

Next: Quiz: Name the 3 most expensive signings for each season?