Why Liverpool should not let go of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
According to The Sun (h/t Daily Mail), Atletico Madrid are willing to offer Thomas Partey in exchange for Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
Atletico midfielder Partey has been the subject of transfer speculation over the last couple of weeks, with Liverpool’s rivals Arsenal keen on securing the Ghanaian’s signature.
However, the La Liga side are uncertain whether the Gunners can afford his buy-out clause of £45million. They are now eager to land Oxlade-Chamberlain from Liverpool in a straight swap for Partey.
The 26-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain has been a vital player for Jurgen Klopp’s Reds this season. He has made 34 appearances in total across all competitions. Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose time at Anfield has been hindered by injuries in the previous campaigns, has made a strong comeback this season. He has scored 7 goals in total for the Reds.
His ability to function as a wide-man despite primarily being a central midfielder makes him a valuable asset for the Reds. Out of his 34 appearances this season, Oxlade-Chamberlain has just played 11 times in the middle, with the rest mostly being on the flanks.
Also, the Englishman has a contract that runs at the Anfield until 2023, meaning Atletico’s plans for a swap deal involving Partey seems highly unlikely at the moment.
Liverpool have a versatile midfielder in Chamberlain
Meanwhile, Partey is a defensive midfielder and Liverpool are clearly not in need of any player in that position, with the side already having the talented Fabinho with them.
The Brazilian holding midfielder was crucial to Liverpool’s Champions League success last term and is the undisputed No.1 in that role. The Reds also have skipper Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita as back-up, meaning Partey’s chances could be increasingly limited if a deal works out.
With Reds already having as many as seven midfielders in their ranks, Partey’s arrival will only make him surplus to the club’s requirements. Hence, it would be wise of Liverpool to ward off any interest for their utility man Oxlade-Chamberlain, as he clearly looks a better fit at the club than Partey.
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Verdict
Considering the fact that Liverpool are well stacked in the middle, bringing in another midfielder like Partey will just be a waste of money and time. Also, in Chamberlain, the Reds having a versatile midfielder, who can play in a variety of roles. Losing him would hurt the side, especially for a manager like Klopp, who varies his tactics according to the team’s requirements.
