Chelsea are growing increasingly confident of agreeing a £35m deal for Arsenal star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The England midfielder has been on the brink of a move all summer long, with Liverpool reportedly also interested.
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Recently, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has been quick to assure fans Alexis Sanchez and Olivier Giroud will not be leaving the club.
However, the Frenchman – who’ll be relieved following Arsenal’s thrilling late comeback win over Leicester on Friday – is yet to reassure fans over the 23-year-old.
The news has given Antonio Conte and Co hope they could make a move for their man as they are desperately lacking first-team depth.
The Blues fell to a horrendous 3-2 defeat at home to Burnley in their opening Premier League game as their lack of options was all too apparent.
Meanwhile, Oxlade-Chamberlain played at left-wing back for Friday’s last-gasp 4-3 win over the Foxes as Wenger continues to struggle to know where to deploy him.
Since joining aged 17 in 2011, Wenger has tried Ox in central midfield, attacking midfield, out on the wings and now even at wing-back.]
However, his inconsistent minutes have continued to become a problem as the England star looks for a move away.
With stars including Sanchez set to return to the starting XI, Oxlade-Chamberlain is likely to be left out in the coming weeks.
In the wing-back roles – where he would most likely be deployed – Wenger is set to go with Hector Bellerin and Sead Kolasinac.
Liverpool are also interested in Oxlade-Chamberlain, but the Evening Standard reports Chelsea feel they are in pole position for the versatile midfielder’s signature.