Newcastle United are one point from sealing a place in next season’s Champions League as they eye summer transfer targets

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlin has hinted his next club will be a Premier League one as he prepares to leave Liverpool at the end of the season.

Newcastle United were made the favourites by the bookmakers to sign the former Arsenal player, who said farewell to Anfield after the Reds’ 1-1 draw at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

Oxlade-Chamberlin is one of four Liverpool players set to depart when their contracts expire at the end of the season. Speaking on the pitch with his son in his arms, he suggested he will be back at Anfield next season but in the away dressing room.

“I don’t know what happens next. It will be a busy summer chasing after him [his boy] and then seeing what comes next,” he told the club website.

“But yeah, I’m sure I will probably be back here at some point in the difficult away dressing room, against these fans – I’ve done it before. I’ll try to do my best and if I manage to score or anything, I won’t be celebrating, I promise you that, because I’ve got so much respect for everything that I’ve been through here.

“But I told Virgil I might actually be able to dribble past him for the first time ever!”

In odds released by BetFair last week, United were the leading contenders at 3/1 to sign the midfielder with Aston Villa and Brighton following at 4/1 and 5/1 respectively.

He has struggled with injury during much of his Anfield career and will leave the club alongside Roberto Firmino, James Milner and Naby Keita.

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

With the Magpies close to confirming a place in the Champions League, Eddie Howe will likely be keen to add more depth to his squad as Newcastle prepare to battle on more fronts after an impressive first full season under the ex-Bournemouth boss.

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 Cheshire mansion, but Edwards still has friends and family residing in the north east.