According to the Liverpool Echo, manager Jurgen Klopp played a huge role in convincing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain into joining the Reds from Arsenal.
The 24-year-old turned down a £180,000-per-week contract at north London and much more from Chelsea to agree a £35million Anfield switch.
Chamberlain was linked with Liverpool last winter, and also some 6 summers ago when he was newly coming through the ranks as an impressive teenager at Southampton.
Nothing materialized back then for the youngster who grew up supporting the Merseysiders.
Not even the charismatic Jamie Carragher could convince Chamberlain into a Liverpool switch as at then, with the Reds legend tweeting after it emerged a deal for the Saints youth product was all but confirmed: “Tried to persuade AOC (Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain) to join @LFC when he was a kid, obviously Klopp is more persuasive!..”
Chamberlain’s last game for Arsenal coincidentally came against Liverpool – Sunday’s 4-nil drubbing, and the winger cum attacking midfielder, who scored just 20 goals for Arsenal in 198 outings – 115 starts and 83 as a sub, has long mulled over exiting the Emirates.
While Antonio Conte’s Chelsea were very close to landing him, it was Jurgen Klopp’s great influence that finally proved ultimate, and that would continue to come handy in subsequent transfer windows for Liverpool.
