Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s name has continually linked with Celtic following reports on deadline day, but there are still doubts about whether a move makes sense.
Speaking in November, the midfielder said he wanted to get back to football in England, which made a move north seem unlikely. That view has not changed in public, even though Celtic are still looking at the free agent.
Martin O’Neill confirmed that talks have happened at his press conference on Tuesday. Celtic used the January window to bring in loans and short-term options, which has kept the door open for experienced players available without a fee. Oxlade-Chamberlain fits that idea on paper, but the details matter.
The 32-year-old has been without a club since leaving Turkey and has been training with Arsenal to stay fit. That keeps him ticking over, but it is not the same as being match ready. That gap is bigger for a player who has missed a lot of football through injury in recent years.
Joe Hart also plays a part. Oxlade-Chamberlain is close to the former Celtic goalkeeper and has spoken to him about the club. That advice could influence him, even if England still feels like the preferred option. For now, Celtic’s interest looks more like a possibility than a guaranteed signing.
He said: (Fozcast – The Ben Foster Podcast), “It’s a different situation for me to be in. I had it when I came out of Liverpool, and obviously I was a free agent, saw my contract out there. I had it for a month or two, but then the season kicked off, and I signed in Turkey, I think 14th of August.
“So, it wasn’t too long. It wasn’t like now. Now is obviously the season’s well and truly underway, and it’s that awkward bit of waiting, of like you’re missing out, and you want to be playing, so it’s different.
“It’s a it’s not a nice situation for any footballer to be in. I’m fortunate enough that I’ve put myself in the situation where I can choose what’s best for me and I’ve said no to things.
“There’s more in play now, family, children, be a bit more selective, ultimately, the whole thing is you want to get back playing and going again as soon as possible. There’s obviously stuff you can do to be proactive yourself and maybe find opportunities or let people know you’re be open to opportunities.
“Yeah, but to be fair, the majority of them have been in Europe, away from home. For me, I did two years away, which I found difficult on a family level.
“I was going six weeks, eight weeks without seeing my son, my missus, mum and dad, they didn’t even get a look in because if I ever come back for a day or two, it would be seeing them, seeing him, that was difficult.
“So, I just knew I don’t want to do that again. I want to be back in England. And it’s just waiting for the right thing to pop up back here, or close enough that that makes sense for a family thing.
“I think once you have children, it changes things. It’s not all just about me now, and completely about football. It needs to suit that as well. I’ve had offers, and I’ve had to say no to them because it wasn’t right for me and for us.
“So then your pool comes down to, you know, you’re saying, I want to be here. Then it’s just waiting for the right thing, the right project, something I can be excited about, to go into and hit the ground running hopefully.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain is a central midfielder who can create and score goals, something Celtic have struggled with this season, with the obvious exception of Benjamin Nygren. If Oxlade-Chamberlain can stay fit, he would undoubtedly contribute. If not, it would be a waste of both his time and Celtic’s.
Fitness also remains a question. Training keeps him fit to an extent, but that is not the same as being ready for competitive matches. Finding rhythm after long spells without regular football takes time, and Celtic do not have much of that to spare.
A return to England still feels like the most likely outcome. Being closer to home, settling quickly, and playing in a familiar environment all work in that direction. Celtic remain an option, but they are not the obvious one.
If a move did happen, it would be a bet on experience and attitude rather than immediate output. Right now, it feels more like ongoing talks than a deal close to being done.
