Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain
It was suggested by talkSPORT and the Guardian earlier this month that Saints were keen to bring their academy graduate Oxlade-Chamberlain back to St Mary’s.
This deal would be a coup for the club if they were to pull it off and it is perhaps unlikely now given that the 28-year-old would leave a sizeable hole in Liverpool squad.
If Saints thought that a deal could be done with the Reds then the Ox could provide some valuable experience to the young players breaking through from the youth team. It is unknown how much of an influence he could have in just a season though.
Theo Walcott was signed on a free transfer this summer and is said to have a big impact around the training ground because of his experience of coming through the club’s academy. Players who are brought in though need to have a an effect on the field of play too.
Oxlade-Chamberlain still possesses explosive pace and is an excellent ball-carrier when on form but his knee injury from last season and overall injury record is something Saints would need to be wary of.