It broke yesterday that Celtic are interested in signing 35-cap England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who is currently a free agent. This move can be completed at any time because the player is out of contract.
This has caused mixed opinions among supporters, with some feeling the Hoops are again opting for the cheap option. Others think that the former Liverpool player could thrive in Glasgow though, and even former Rangers player Kris Boyd has revealed he thinks that the 32-year-old would be a success in the Scottish Premiership.
Should fans be excited at the prospect of signing a free agent in his 30s? We think yes.
Proven talent to improve midfield
Starting out his career at Southampton, where he played during his youth, Oxlade-Chamberlain spent six years at Arsenal from 2011 to 2017, before moving on to Liverpool, where he stayed until 2023. The Englishman then made the move to Turkey, where he featured 38 times for Besiktas.
He left the Turkish side after manager Giovanni van Bronckhorst froze him out of the squad ahead of last season. He was left out of their Europa League squad, and by the end of the season, it was announced that they had terminated his contract and paid him almost €2 million to do so.
Since then, he has been training with Premier League club Arsenal and with an injury to Mikel Merino, Mikel Arteta is reportedly interested in the signature of Oxlade-Chamberlain. The Gunners head coach refused to rule out the deal when asked about it.
Now, Celtic are really trying to convince the player to move, with the chance of Premiership football surely appealing at this point in his career. With the experience he has, he could quickly become a fan favourite if he makes an impact, similar to Aaron Mooy. Martin O'Neill confirmed today that contact has already been made.
Celtic's midfield has been a point of contention this season, with some groups of supporters believing that it hasn't been good enough. The usual midfield consists of Arne Engels, club captain Callum McGregor, and the in-form Benjamin Nygren. Despite the stats favouring the players, fans were expecting better from the trio.
Even if you think the midfield is solid, it lacks depth. He has played 39 games this season, and we're only in February. Last season, he finished with 54 appearances, and in the last 10 years, he has reached over 50 games played five times.
The midfield also comes unbalanced if a player like Engels is out. He offers something unique, and his presence on the pitch often helps Celtic control the game.
Benjamin Nygren has scored 15 times this season, assisting six. To do that from midfield is an impressive feat, but some people think he lacks the ability to control games. It's clear to see that teams have been overrunning the midfield this season, and that's because a lot of the time, Celtic actually opt for a 4-2-4 formation rather than the noted 4-3-3, so that Nygren can play higher up the pitch.
There needs to be questions asked about whether Nygren could potentially slot in another position, allowing us to keep three midfielders while sticking with the Swede. Oxlade-Chamberlain coming in could be a great addition as he would replace Nygren in that three-player midfield, while allowing him to play in a different position, if it is possible.
Having such an experienced player in the squad would undoubtedly help too. It could inspire the younger players to reach their potential, and he has played a lot on the biggest stages in the world, meaning that he wouldn't be phased by European opposition.
With Celtic hoping to push on and progress further in the Europa League, he would be a massive help. We are going to be coming up against some tough opposition, like the confirmed Stuttgart and Braga/Porto, should we progress. If Arsenal think he is fit enough to consider him a genuine option, then that gives us all hope that he could hit the ground running.