Arsenal confident they can see off interest from Liverpool, Manchester City and Chelsea to tie down Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to a new deal- Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's contract at Arsenal expires at the end of next season
- He has attracted interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City
- Oxlade-Chamberlain travelled to Australia on the club's pre-season tour
- The Gunners are confident that they can reach a deal with the 23-year-old
Arsenal are growing increasingly confident that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will not be going anywhere this summer.The 23-year-old, whose contract expires at the end of next season, has attracted interest from Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City.A lack of progress over an extension at the Emirates has frustrated Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was instrumental in Arsenal’s late-season upturn which saw them lift the FA Cup.The forward has rejected new, improved terms and there are fears he may leave the club either this summer, or when his current deal ends.
However, Oxlade-Chamberlain has travelled to Australia with the rest of Arsene Wenger’s squad and the Gunners are encouraged that an agreement that will see the player extend his six–year stay at the club will be reached.
Meanwhile, a third club is monitoring developments over the future of Olivier Giroud. The Frenchman, 30, has attracted interest from Everton and Marseille, following the arrival of £52m new boy Alexandre Lacazette.
AC Milan are now understood to be keeping tabs on the situation although Giroud’s presence in the party travelling Down Under is the clearest indication yet that no move is imminent.
Lacazette was also on the plane, along with Mesut Ozil, who had been linked with a move away from Arsene Wenger’s side.
Giroud’s future is in doubt after Lacazette’s arrival but the fact he has made the 12,000-mile trip suggests the Frenchman wants to stay and fight for his place.
Alexis Sanchez, who has been linked with a switch to Manchester City, and Shkodran Mustafi have both been given extended leave following their participation in the Confederations Cup while Lucas Perez has stayed behind to continue negotiations with Deportivo La Coruna.
Arsenal’s other new arrival, Sead Kolasinac, boarded the flight to Australia on Sunday, but there was no place in the group for Mathieu Debuchy, Kieran Gibbs or Carl Jenkinson, which signals their likely departures.
Hector Bellerin, Calum Chambers and Rob Holding have also been given extra time off following the European Under-21 Championship while injury victims Jack Wilshere and Gabriel have both stayed behind as they continue their recoveries.
The party included a number of youngsters, with Wenger keen to give them a taste of life as a first-team player.
Joe Willock, Krystian Bielik, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Eddie Nketiah, Reiss Nelson and Donyell Malen have all made the long trip.
Arsenal, who are set to make a third bid for Monaco winger Thomas Lemar, arrive Down Under this morning. They play Sydney at ANZ Stadium on Thursday before taking on Western Sydney Wanderers at the same venue on Saturday.
The group will then depart on Sunday for China, where they will take on Bayern Munich and Chelsea.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-4683484/Arsenal-confident-keeping-Alex-Oxlade-Chamberlain.html#ixzz4mTg05IhX
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