Arsenal have reportedly offered a fresh £180,000-a-week contract to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain in a desperate attempt to keep hold of his services beyond the summer.
The England international is said to have met with manager Arsene Wenger and chief executive Ivan Gazidis on Thursday where the possibility of a new contract was discussed.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has just 10 months left on his previous Emirates deal, and The Mail suggests that the 24-year-old will turn down the latest offer in order to push for an exit.
The versatile ace would become the club’s second highest earner behind Alexandre Lacazette with the new extension, but he is more concerned about his progress ahead of next year’s World Cup.
The 24-year-old has played primarily in the wing-back position at the Emirates since April, but he is said to want to feature higher up the field in order to maintain his Three Lions spot.
Chelsea have already failed with an initial £25m bid for the former Southampton graduate, and they are reportedly planning a fresh £35m offer in order to persuade the Gunners into a sale.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has maintained his stance of not selling the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, both of whom have entered the final year of their contracts.
As a result, Oxlade-Chamberlain could be the odd-man out with the Gunners potentially at risk of losing him on a free to Chelsea at the end of the season.
Arsenal’s next opponents Liverpool are also interested in the Englishman, and it will be interesting to see whether Oxlade-Chamberlain makes the lineup for Sunday’s trip to Anfield.
