According to reports on Goal.com, Chelsea will have to hand Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain a £150,000-a-week deal to convince him to move to Stamford Bridge before the transfer window slams shut at the end of this month.

What’s the word, then?

Well, Goal say that the Blues are looking to push through a number of deals before August comes to a close, and it is perhaps even more important following the shock 3-2 home defeat to Burnley on the opening day of the Premier League season on Saturday.

Already without the likes of Eden Hazard, Pedro and new boy Tiemoue Bakayoko through injury, and Victor Moses because of suspension, Chelsea saw both Gary Cahill and Cesc Fabregas pick up red cards.

Goal says that Arsenal would prefer to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain even though he is unwilling to extend his contract that is due to run out next summer, but they have struggled to match his wage demands as he is currently on £65,000-a-week.

The report adds that Antonio Conte’s men will need to pay around £35m to convince the Gunners to sell the England international, who could leave for free in 2018.

Would Oxlade-Chamberlain be a good signing for Chelsea?

He certainly would be.

While he will want to nail down a regular position if he does make the move to Stamford Bridge – something he has struggled to do in his six years with Arsenal – the 23-year-old can play in a variety of positions.

That is something Chelsea require right now and as well as providing competition and cover for Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses in the left and right wing-back spots, the England international can also play further forward or in central midfield if required.

What’s the verdict, then?

Well, Chelsea need new faces and they need them quick and the fact that Oxlade-Chamberlain is so versatile – and counts towards their home-grown quota – means that the Blues should certainly consider offering the 23-year-old the wages he wants.

While he seems to have been around forever, the midfielder still has plenty to prove and lots of time to develop before reaching the peak years of his career and he could go on to be a star at Stamford Bridge.

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