Martin O’Neill has announced that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is scheduled to undergo a medical examination today, paving the way for him to join Celtic on a short-term contract.
The 32-year-old midfielder, who previously played for Arsenal and Liverpool and earned 35 caps with the England national team, has been a free agent since his departure from the Turkish club Besiktas in August.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been maintaining his fitness by training with Arsenal. However, ahead of Celtic’s Scottish Cup match against Dundee at Parkhead this evening, O’Neill is optimistic about securing Oxlade-Chamberlain’s services for the remainder of the season.
“I would have thought he had several options available,” O’Neill remarked. “There was even speculation that Arsenal, where he’s been training, might consider signing him if they face injury issues. So, I’m thrilled that he’s decided to join us.”
“He’s scheduled for a medical tomorrow, and if everything goes smoothly, I’m hopeful he’ll sign on,” O’Neill added.
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s spent two seasons with Besiktas before being released in May.
Martin O’Neill is looking forward to working with the midfielder over the coming months
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with former club Arsenal since becoming a free agent
“He’s here with the intention to play, to earn a spot on the team, and to regain his fitness as quickly as possible,” O’Neill concluded.
‘I think it would be nice to have him here with the squad, just for at least these couple of months.’
Oxlade-Chamberlain will be signed too late to be included in Celtic’s squad for the Europa League ties against Stuttgart later this month.
He will arrive in the midst of a civil war at Parkhead between fans and board and, indeed, with supporters themselves split over a proposed boycott, starting with the cup game against Dundee.
The Celtic Fans Collective, who represents hundreds of groups, announced the plans amid ongoing frustration with the board.
The umbrella group again demanded the departure of chief executive Michael Nicholson, the reinstatement of the banned Green Brigade, the Parkhead club’s ultras group, and the restoration of club access to fan media groups.
Celtic interim chairman Brian Wilson has reached out to supporter groups in a bid for unity and O’Neill is looking for some sort of middle ground before the situation becomes what he described as ‘debilitating’.
The 73-year-old said: ‘What I would like, if it’s at all possible, is some meetings which I think Mr Wilson said was going to take place, which is a big step forward.
Interim Brian Wilson has reached out to supporter groups ahead of this weekend’s protest
‘Let’s find out what all the ailments are and let’s see if we can rectify some of them, because going forward the club will trip itself up if that’s the case. Eventually it’s debilitating and it does affect people.
‘And Celtic have always prided themselves in a sort of togetherness, and it is strange, really, for it to be in this shape. So we do need the fans in.
‘You saw Falkirk manager John McGlynn saying that the atmosphere here can turn toxic pretty quickly and that’s not something you want to hear from opposition managers.
‘Maybe these meetings might be too late before tomorrow’s game, but if they’re talking about some sort of show at Stuttgart, I think we should try and have some sort of talks before then.
‘There has to be a middle ground somewhere along the way, as to how quickly we can reach that is probably in the lap of the Gods.
‘But it would just be nice to know what all of the complaints are about or the club’s attempt at least to rectify those.’
