That they have contingency plans in case they canāt reach agreement with a fella on the dole who hasnāt played a game in 9 months says a fair bit about the state of things.
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SSN reporting that Oxlade-Chamberlain is travelling to Glasgow tomorrow to finalise his move to Celtic. They claim he said his goodbyes at Arsenal today where heās been training for the last while. Both sides are relaxed about missing the Europa League registration deadline.
The Scottish Sun, meanwhile, are reporting there are complications because the playerās camp wanted an 18-month deal with Celtic offering an initial 6-month contract. They also say not being involved in the Europa League is a stumbling block, claiming Celtic intend to add 3 of the other new signings to the squad anyway but the player wanted to be involved.
Iād like a definitive view from a reliable source.
Celtic victims of their own success here with too many signings .
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Martin OāNeill just confirmed in his Friday press conference that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain had agreed to sign subject to a successful medicalā¦
ā¦Itās kinda mad whatās happened this season when you think about it.
Can he do it against three pipefitters and a part time mental health nurse on a wet Thursday night in Falkirk?
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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain the latest player to play for both of the major Catholic clubs on earth - Liverpool and Celtic.
In for the ride 
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The Ox, I fear, has Ian Wright mark 2 written all over it.
Heāll be turned inside out by a stevedore from Stranraer
Youād fear heās just done too much to flourish at SPL level and his heart wonāt really be in it. His wings are singed.
He could yet be a bolter for a seat on the plane in thomas Tuchels squad.
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Its low enough risk really. Six months with an option for another year. Heās made his money. Didnāt have a queue of clubs with offers to compete with. Its probably 30% chance of success but wonāt cripple us either way, I have a funny feeling he could work under MON and Joe Hart has already endorsed him. Thoughts here @Little_Lord_Fauntleroy @Bandage @Rocko @Pirlo @Realbhoy ?
Pardon my ignorance but what international clearance would he need?
Heās meant to be a very good character, a really nice fella with a great attitude & heās got a winning mentality. I think this Celtic squad lacks a bit of steel &, while heās not the type to go around screaming & roaring, he should help set good standards. Itās not like theyāre signing an absolute cunt of a man like Andy Robertson or someone.
So heās straight away adding experience & leadership & his position is an area of weakness for Celtic. Thatās a nice little mix to add to the squad. The concerns would be his injury track record & his lack of match fitness, albeit heās been training at Arsenal for the last 3 months.
Additionally, I think (could be wrong?) heās moved into central midfield as his careerās evolved & he would be renowned as a box to box type player. So Iām wondering if the physical attributes will still be there to allow him to stamp his authority on the league. Whatever about the overall standard in Scotland, you need to be able to run & compete.
But I think in the absence of the club actually signing a quality young midfielder for a feeā¦this is a signing with lots of upside & if it doesnāt work then weāre no worse off.
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Itās a bit like Bobby Charlton lining out to play for Waterford FC in the twilight of his career. Except of course that Bobby was a decent player in his day.
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This is mere speculation on my partā¦his last club was Besiktas and although there was a mutual agreement to a contract terminationā¦there may be some formalities to get his player registration transferred from the Turkish to the jocko FA. Like when a muldoon moves from the bog to Ballyboden or whatever. Or it could be nothing to do with thatā¦Celtic tend to include that line any time they sign anyone outside of Scotland. Afaik, heās ready & available for selection midweek.
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You could copy and paste this for when wrighty signed. Or Roy queen.
Seems a bit bizarre and has mildly irked me as such language would usually refer to a work permit connotation rather than any other formality. Thanks mate
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no risk but a sign of how far we have fallen
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