Chelsea to step up pursuit of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this week but face competition from Manchester City
CHELSEA and Manchester City are set to step up their chase for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with the England winger still reluctant to sign a new deal at Arsenal.
The 23-year-old is under contract till next summer and could leave on a free in less than 12 months' time.
And according to the Express, Oxlade-Chamberlain has told Arsene Wenger he will not be signing the £100,000-a-week deal the club have offered him, with the prospect of better wages elsewhere.
Manchester City and Chelsea are both thought to be interested in the wideman, who would add strength in depth to both squads.
Chelsea signed Alvaro Morata last week for £65million and are still looking to bolster their squad with Champions League and Premier League commitments next term.
And City are starting to fill their squad with full-backs ahead of next term, but have an embarrassment of riches in the attacking midfield area of the pitch.
That would mean Oxlade-Chamberlain would have to fight hard for his place if he moved to the Etihad.
But despite that Wenger is reportedly still confident both club and player can come to agree a contract at the North London club he joined from Southampton as a 17-year-old in 2011.
The Ox has made 129 Premier League appearances for the Gunners and played 48 games for club and country last season, scoring seven times.
He was involved in Arsenal's pre-season tour of the Far East, while Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil both face uncertain futures with their contracts due to expire next summer.
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