Southampton ‘eye audacious loan move for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’

Southampton’s bid to fill the void left by star striker Danny Ings will reportedly see them pursue a loan deal for Liverpool’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. 

Ings departed for Aston Villa last week in a deal worth in excess of £25million.

Saints boss Ralph Hasenhuttl is determined to reinvest in his squad and talkSPORT  report that a return to St Mary’s for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who came through the club’s youth system, is of interest on the south coast.  

Ralph Hasenhuttl wants to bolster his side after losing star striker Danny Ings to Aston Villa

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been given plenty of minutes by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp in pre-season, even experimenting with him as a false nine.

But Southampton are reportedly of the belief that the Reds are open to offers for Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The English midfielder made just 13 Premier League appearances last season with competition fierce for a spot in Liverpool’s three-man midfield.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has been tried out as a false No 9 by Liverpool during the pre-season

Any return to St Mary’s for Oxlade-Chamberlain would also be an emotional one having joined at the age of seven and progressing through the academy.

Southampton eventually sold him to Arsenal in a £15million deal in 2011 before Liverpool snapped him up for £35m back in 2017.   

Klopp has typically used Oxlade-Chamberlain as a central midfielder whereas at Arsenal he was often deployed in wide areas.

It is not clear how Hasenhuttl would want to utilise him should the loan move prove to be successful. 

Oxlade Chamberlain made his Southampton first-team debut at the age of 16, coming off the bench in a 5-0 win against Huddersfield in 2010.

He went on to feature 43 times for Southampton’s first time before heading off for north London. 

More to follow.