How Little Mix star could help Newcastle United sign Champions League winner for free

Little Mix star Perrie Edwards could play a role in the future of Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with Newcastle United reportedly interested in securing the winger's signature this summer.

The 29-year-old will leave Anfield at the end of the season when his contract expires after six years at the club in a stint which included a Premier League and Champions League win.

Oxlade-Chamberlain's recent years on Merseyside have been riddled with injuries and a struggle to land a place in Jurgen Klopp's starting XI, having only made 13 appearances this season, but is nonetheless attracting interest from Premier League sides.

The Daily Mail report that Aston Villa and Brighton join Newcastle United in registering interest in the star's services, who would be available on a free transfer this summer.

Eddie Howe is currently having to contend with injuries to Joelinton, Joe Willock, Sean Longstaff and Jacob Murphy, leaving him light on the ground in the middle of the park.

The Magpies boss will be looking to add numbers to his midfield before the start of next season and the additional European matches that are set to come with it with Oxlade-Chamberlain supposedly an option.

A move to Tyneside may tempt the Liverpool man thanks to links to the area through fiancee Perrie Edwards.

Edwards was famously part of famous girl group Little Mix and hails from South Shields. The singer's mother no longer lives in the region and is frequently seen with the star around her £3.5 million Chesire mansion, but Edwards still has friends and family residing in the north east.

Little Mix colleague Jade Thirwall is also from South Shields and, despite living in London, frequently returns home to the area. She owns local bar Arbeia, is Honourary President at South Shields FC and just this week was in attendance at LGBTQ+ event Rush in the area.

Edwards was in tears when returning home to Newcastle last year as part of Little Mix's farewell tour, giving an emotional statement of love to a sold-out Utilita Arena crowd.

She said: "Jade, we came here a lot of times. To see our favourite bands, all our favourite artists. And I used to go to a college literally just around the corner. And back then, I was just a college girl with a big dream.

“Why am I getting dead emotional? We made it! And we just feel so grateful to be on this stage performing for you guys. And if anyone in the audience tonight has a dream, you can achieve it if you work hard.”

The Little Mix star, who is currently working on solo material, is believed to have met her footballing beau in 2016 and made their relationship public in February 2017 during a trip to Paris.

The couple welcomed their first child Axel in 2021 and got engaged in June 2022.