LIVERPOOL have confirmed the £40million signing of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
And Virgil van Dijk and Thomas Lemar could follow him on a dramatic deadline day at Anfield.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has signed a five-year contract to join the club he supported as a boy, having rejected the chance to move to Chelsea.
Liverpool and Jurgen Klopp could yet make further signings before tonight’s transfer deadline, as they continue to hold talks with Monaco in an attempt to secure a £75m deal for French forward Lemar.
They have not given up hope either of signing Van Dijk, though they acknowledge that it would take a significant shift in Southampton’s stance for the £70m-valued centre-back to move to Anfield.
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, had a Liverpool medical last night at St George’s Park, where he has been with the England squad preparing for tomorrow’s World Cup qualifier in Malta.
“Firstly, I’m delighted to have signed for Liverpool and a big thank-you to everyone here at the FA that has made this possible, using the facilities. It has been a massive help.
“I’m not going to say too much today; I’m here with England and we’ve got two big games coming up, so I want to focus on them, but I can’t wait to get to Melwood.”
Klopp revealed he’s watched the player for years and said: “I am really, really happy we have got Alex signed. Since the last game I have been waiting and hoping we could make this transfer – and when I got the news he was ours it was fantastic.
“I remember the first time I saw him play live – it was at Dortmund in 2014 and he came on as a sub that day and made a big impact.
“He stood out immediately because of his pace and skills and his attitude in such a big game for a young player; I remember him chasing back to make a brilliant challenge on Mkhitaryan in the box to save a certain goal.
“We won that game but lost the return match at Arsenal when he started and played well, I think he hit the post. Since then I have followed him and when I heard it may be possible to sign him I didn’t need to think twice.
“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.
“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. I welcome him to the Liverpool family.”
England manager Gareth Southgate was understood to be keen for the move to be completed before the squad flies out to Malta today.
The departure of Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal looked certain after he refused to extend a contract that was scheduled to expire next summer, but it appeared as though Stamford Bridge would be his likely destination.
The Premier League champions had agreed a £40m fee with Arsenal on Tuesday, but the player insisted he was not interested, expressing concerns that Blues manager Antonio Conte wanted him to play at wingback.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has made clear he would rather play in central midfield, and believes that he will get that chance under Klopp.
Liverpool striker Divock Origi is also close to joining German club Wolfsburg on a season’s loan.
The Belgium international had looked set to be offered to Monaco as part of a deal for Lemar, but a move to the Bundesliga is now more likely.
Origi, 22, believes his chances of first-team football at Anfield will be limited.
Source:www.express.co.uk