Martin O’Neill has confirmed former Arsenal and Liverpool midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain wants to join Celtic.
Sky Sports News revealed on Thursday that the Scottish champions were in advanced talks over a deal for the 32-year-old, who was due to travel to Glasgow on Friday to finalise the move.
Celtic and Oxlade-Chamberlain are close to agreeing on a six-month contract, with an option to extend by a further year.
“I spoke to him this morning, I think he wants to come and I think he’s coming,” O’Neill said in his press conference on Friday, ahead of facing Dundee in the Scottish Cup on Saturday.
“I would have assumed he’s got a number of options. I think he was even talking about Arsenal, where he was training, might take him on because they might pick up a couple of injuries.
“I’m delighted he’s going to come, so he says. I think he’s doing a medical tomorrow [Saturday] and, all being well, I’m hoping that he signs on.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has 35 England caps
“I think the football club itself has convinced him, if indeed he needs convincing. We might be having a conversation in 36 hours – he might come up here and see what the weather is like and disappear back down again!”
Oxlade-Chamberlain had been training and keeping fit with Premier League leaders Arsenal but said his goodbyes to the club on Thursday.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Chris Sutton meets Martin O’Neill to discuss the manager’s second spell in charge this season, hoping for ‘reconciliation’ between the club and fans, recruitment concerns, January transfers, Hearts being title favourites and more
Sky Sports News revealed Celtic’s interest in the player earlier this week after he had terminated his contract at Turkish side Besiktas by mutual agreement in August.
Asked if the 35-times capped England player was someone he liked, O’Neill said: “I do. I genuinely do.
“He has trained at Arsenal for some time since his time in Turkey. In terms of fitness, it’s not match fitness, but it’s fine. We’ll see.
“I think he was very excited about what we were saying. He knows about the football club; he’s a big friend of Joe Hart and Joe’s spoken to him. Not on our behalf, it was just a conversation with Joe.”
Celtic take on Stuttgart in the first leg of their Europa League play-off on February 19 but the registration deadline to include Oxlade-Chamberlain in the squad is now closed.
Celtic were relaxed about the situation, as he was unlikely to be included in their European squad.
O’Neill says the midfielder might be disappointed to miss out, but the Hoops boss is confident he can still make an impact in Glasgow.
“I do believe he has the desire, he wants to do well,” said O’Neill, who added Tomas Cvancara, Julian Araujo and Junior Adamu to his European squad, meaning Deadline Day arrivals Benjamin Arthur and Joel Mvuka also miss out.
“He is 32, which in this day and age, is no age whatsoever for players who look after themselves. How quickly we can do that [get him up to speed] will be up to both of us, the club and him as a player.”
Arteta: We wish Oxlade-Chamberlain well at Celtic
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has wished Oxlade-Chamberlain well in his move to Celtic, after also playing with the midfielder during their time together at the Emirates.
“It’s been great to share some time with him. We played together as well, so some great memories,” Arteta said.
“He’s been really helpful to us, so hopefully we can help him and support him in that tough period for him.
“We wish him all the best in whatever he decides to do.”
