Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has delivered a hammer blow to Arsenal's hopes of keeping him this summer by informing Wenger that he will not sign a new deal with the club.
The Ox
Arsenal winger, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain, who has just a year left on his current deal and has been offered fresh terms on what is believed to be a 4-year deal, has reportedly told Arsenal he is determined to leave as Chelsea are set to make a fresh £35 million offer for him.
It was gathered that the England star who has told Arsene Wenger that he will not sign a new contract, is said to have made it clear that it is not about the money, with an offer of £125,000 a week thought to have been tabled.
The 24-year-old is already thought to have snubbed an offer of £100,000 a week from Emirates chiefs, and Chelsea are set to pounce by testing the Gunners‘ resolve over a player who has now twice turned down contract offers.
Antonio Conte has made the former Southampton man, one of his main targets, and Ox is understood to be tempted by a switch across the capital to the Blues.
The midfielder’s decision gives the club a headache and they must now decide whether to cash-in on Oxlade-Chamberlain or let him leave for free next summer.
Ox is just one of a number of stars in the last year of their contracts at the club. Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez have still to be convinced to sign an extension.