Reports: Pep Guardiola wants Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at Manchester City next season
Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is reportedly a target for Pep Guardiola once he takes over Manchester City in the summer. The Englishman burst onto the scene for Southampton and impressed Arsene Wenger who snapped him up as a teenager back in 2011 but has failed to nail down a consistent role due to injuries and dips in form.
A full English international with Roy Hodgson, the Ox has apparently impressed Pep Guardiola during Arsenal 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich at the Allianz Arena earlier this season when he played on the right wing continuously bombing up and down the field.
Pep is also said to have been impressed with the youngster played in the centre against Bayern two years ago. He's often featured in the centre in the Champions League with a performance against AC Milan also vehemently recalled by many Arsenal fans as one of his better performances.
Wenger has often admitted that the Ox might end up in the middle of the pitch later on in his career yet his 'education' on the wings – by paying equal importance to tracking back and defending – is starting to get the best out of the youngster.
If the Ox does move to City, it'll continue the trend of a player switching the Emirates for Etihad almost every season. The last player to join City was Frenchman Bacary Sagna who has barely featured for Manuel Pellegrini's men and the Ox will have to consider the competition of places before making said decision.
Pep Guardiola is also said to be interested in signing Evertonian youngster John Stones. The Merseyside club resisted a series of bids rising up to £40 million from Chelsea and given that they have a new owner in Farhad Moshiri – not to forget the increase of cash inflow from TV deals – they might be willing to go through the same to ensure he stays at Goodison Park.