Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain could look to join another Premier League team with European aspirations, according to former top flight manager Alex McLeish.
The Lowdown: Ox out of favour
The 28-year-old has found himself increasingly out of favour for the Reds this season, as Jurgen Klopp's men battle across four competitions.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been limited to just nine starts in the Premier League, with his last appearance for Liverpool coming back in March, against Nottingham Forest.
With his Englishman's current deal expiring next year, it looks highly likely that he will move on this summer.
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The Latest: McLeish makes new claim
Speaking to Football Insider, McLeish claimed that Oxlade-Chamberlain is yet to hit his peak and will look to join another high-end English team:
"Players stay at clubs because of that special relationship with the clubs and the manager. Maybe they don’t get the minutes that they would perhaps want. Look at Divock Origi, who is going to leave Liverpool this season. He didn’t seem too worried about not getting minutes.
"There comes a time when possibly they look at the clock and say: ‘Time’s running out. Maybe I can go and play every week.’
"Oxlade-Chamberlain’s got his peak time ahead of him. Individuals sometimes seem to be in comfort mode, and I don’t mean that in disrespect. I mean they’re comfortable with their life, playing a bit-part for Liverpool.
"The time sometimes comes when you say: ‘I’m 28 now, I’d love to play more games. I’m sure one of the big clubs would snap me up.’
"He’s a very versatile player and he has a hateful of medals now. In Chamberlain’s case, he could rightly say: ‘I’m looking for a club who’s going for a European place, going to try win a cup or get a Champions League place.’
"Why shouldn’t he have that ambition? It will be a club that has that ambition as well."
The Verdict: Time to leave this summer
It makes complete sense for Oxlade-Chamberlain to move on at the end of the season, having clearly dropped down the midfield pecking order under Klopp.
It could even be that he has played his last game for Liverpool and his Reds career will likely be viewed as hit-and-miss overall, with injuries hampering him at the best of times.
A move to a club in the top half of the Premier League would suit all parties, allowing Oxlade-Chamberlain more regular playing time and bringing in key transfer funds for Liverpool to replace him.
In other news, Jurgen Klopp has set his sights on one Liverpool signing. Find out who it is here.