Hoops boss O’Neill insists money won’t be an obstacle as the Parkhead club look to pull of a stunning coup
Alex Oxlade Chamberlain is a Celtic target(Image: Getty Images)
Martin O’Neill insists money won’t be a barrier to bagging former England star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The Celtic boss revealed he’s made a bold bid to tempt the ex-Liverpool and Arsenal ace to Glasgow and the 32-year-old is now weighing up his options. Oxlade-Chamberlain is a free agent after leaving Besiktas last summer and has been training with the Gunners in recent months.
Arsenal are also considering offering the midfielder a short-term deal after suffering injuries to key men in the engine room. But Oxlade-Chamberlain hasn’t ruled out joining the Celtic Premiership push – and cash won’t be a problem for the Parkhead men.
O’Neill said: “No it’s not the money, it’s not for the money. I have spoken to him. Obviously I had a look at what he was doing in Turkey and it was fine.
“He was playing in a more withdrawn role, I think Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was out there and asked if he would help in that sort of position. You don’t lose ability.
“You might lose a bit of hunger, but he was definitely up for it. He was up for a challenge. At 32 years of age he’s still got it. He will have other options. He is training at Arsenal and Arsenal have had a few injuries so they might even take him on.
“But he knew about the club, he had spoken to Joe Hart, that was just by chance or a coincidence. I’m not saying he spoke to Joe Hart two days ago, it might have been months ago. But it was fine. He lives down in London. I really left it. I didn’t progress any further, yet. It’s only 24, 36 hours ago.”
O’Neill declared himself happy with the transfer window with striker Junior Adamu, winger Joel Mvuka and centre back Benjamin Arthur checking in on deadline day after picking up Tomas Cvancara and Julian Araujo earlier in the month.
But landing a blockbuster big name like Oxlade-Chamberlain could give Celtic the experience and talent to drive for the finishing line.
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill(Image: SNS Group)
O’Neill said: “Would he be a Craig Bellamy of years ago? Bellamy’s still talked about now. People still sent messages about ‘why did he not sign permanently?’ Well, because he didn’t want to come permanently!
“If you can get a player of that sort of calibre that would be great. It would be really great. But I can understand that there are lots of other things around there. Arsenal too. Listen, if we were even on a close list that would be fine.
“If it doesn’t materialise we have good players in here at this minute. But I’d love to have him at the end of the day. I think in time getting into match day mode, I don’t think that would be a major problem.”
O’Neill is considering chucking in the new Bhoys against Aberdeen and admitted he was delighted to bolster his squad.
He said: “I think there’s a bit of competition for places now. I genuinely believe that. And I think that can only be a good thing.
“Well, I think the first thing is that if you’re talking about differentiating between quality and numbers, we need people in because we can pick up injuries and suspensions after the transfer window, which was last night, that’s it over.
“So whatever squad you have, that’s it, unless you pick somebody else up who’s been out of contract. So from that viewpoint, it’s fine, it’s nice to get a few people in, in different positions. And what do I think they can add? I think they can help.
“I think they can help in the manner in which I think that the two new arrivals who have played some games for us have done really fine. I’m just happy with them, and if the rest of them make that sort of contribution, then I’ll be delighted.”
Celtic’s move for Mvuka almost hit the skids after issues were flagged up in the medical and the £3m transfer from Lorient was renegotiated into a loan with a view to a permanent deal in the summer.
O’Neill said: “Yeah, I’m not going into any great detail with him, I don’t think that that’s right, but it has ended like that there. He’s fine, everyone’s happy with the way that it has materialised. And we’ll see.
“If you could make any sort of judgement, on somebody that you’ve spoken to for a couple of hours, he’s a really great lad, genuinely. And if his football matches his character, we’re in business.”