Celtic’s O’Neill ‘very interested’ in Oxlade-Chamberlain

Celtic manager Martin O’Neill has had talks with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and says he would be “very interested” in signing the former Liverpool and Arsenal midfielder.

The 32-year-old is a free agent after leaving Turkish side Besiktas in the summer.

Capped 35 times for England, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with Arsenal.

“I’ve spoken to him, but I’m sure he has plenty of options, maybe closer to London,” revealed O’Neill.

“I’d be very interested in doing it. I’m surprised people haven’t taken him up.

“I think he was very excited about what we were saying. He knows all about the club, he’s a big friend of Joe Hart and Joe has spoken to him – not on our behalf.

“It’s something we’re interested in but if it doesn’t materialise, it doesn’t materialise.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain mutually agreed to terminate his contract at Besiktas in late August.

Celtic made three loan signings on transfer deadline day, securing striker Junior Adamu from Freiburg, winger Joel Mvuka from Lorient and defender Benjamin Arther from Brentford.

The Scottish Premiership champions also rejected an approach from Nottingham Forest for midfielder Arne Engels.

Czech Republic forward Tomas Cvancara arrived from Borussia Monchengladbach earlier this month, as did Bournemouth’s Mexico defender Julian Araujo, with those deals also loans.

O’Neill, who is in charge until the end of the season, was quick to close down the idea the club were only interested in temporary arrangements.

“The January window is difficult for permanent deals,” he said, suggesting that winger Fares Ghedjemis chose to stay with Frosinone in Serie B, while others had gone elsewhere for “probably pretty big money”.