Celtic are in advanced talks with former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The Scottish champions are confident of completing a deal with the England international as a free agent who is likely to undergo a medical on Thursday.
Sky Sports News revealed earlier this week that Celtic were interested in the 32-year-old, and manager Martin O’Neill confirmed in a press conference on Tuesday that he had held discussions with the player.
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Chris Sutton meets Martin O’Neill to discuss his second appointment as manager this season, including the ‘reconciliation’ between club and fans, concerns over recruitment, January transfers and Hearts being title favorites.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been training with his former club Arsenal since mutually terminating his contract with Turkish side Besiktas in August.
Asked if he liked the 35-time England international, the Celtic manager said: “I think so. I really do. Yeah. He’s been training with Arsenal for a while since he was in Turkey.”
“Fitness-wise, he’s not match fitness, but that’s OK. We’ll see. And listen, he’s got a lot of options.
“I think he was really excited about what we had to say. He knows the football club. He’s a big friend of Joe Hart and Joe spoke to him, not on our behalf. It was just a conversation with Joe.”
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, 35 England caps
Celtic will face Dundee in the Scottish Cup on Saturday after Wednesday’s Scottish Premiership match in Aberdeen was postponed due to a flooded pitch.
They face Stuttgart in the first leg of the Europa League play-offs on February 19, with the same registration deadline approaching midnight Thursday.
Five players joined the Hoops on loan during the January transfer window. Four of them, Thomas Kvankala, Junior Adam, Joel Mvuka and Benjamin Arthur, were signed under O’Neill.
