Premier League boss confirms midfielder’s exit - Newcastle & Aston Villa ‘leading contenders’

Jurgen Klopp has confirmed Alex Oxlade Chamberlain will leave Liverpool this summer - and Newcastle United have been tipped as his potential next club.

The 29-year-old becomes a free agent next month having made 146 appearances in six years at Anfield. Given his Premier League experience, Oxlade Chamberlain isn’t expected to be short of offers.

However, one thing that hasn’t gone in Oxlade Chamberlain’s favour is his injury record. Since sustaining a career-threatening knee injury in 2018, the midfielder has barely featured.

He is getting let go alongside Naby Keita, James Milner and Brazilian striker Roberto Firmino.

“This game is super difficult for different reasons,” said Klopp. “It’s super important for us and super emotional as well for a different reason, because we’ll say goodbye to four Liverpool legends.

“All four won pretty much each available trophy and we love them, but it’s professional football and nothing is forever.

“It means one chapter will be closed and we can start writing a new one, that’s good for them and for us. I will be forever thankful to them, because without them nothing would have happened.”

Since the Public Investment Fund of Saudi in October 2021, Newcastle have become accustomed to being linked with a huge pool of players.

Away from the wealth of United’s owners, linking Oxlade Chamberlain to Newcastle is an easy link to make because his girlfriend Perrie Edwards is from South Shields.

In odds released by BetFair, United are the leading contenders at 3/1, with Aston Villa and Brighton following at 4/1 and 5/1 respectively.

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