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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

LONDON. — Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will find it just as difficult to find a regular place in the team at Chelsea as he does now at Arsenal, according to Nigel Winterburn.

The England international is the subject of a £35million offer from Chelsea and is keen to seal a move across London after rejecting multiple contract offers from the Gunners. Oxlade-Chamberlain is close to joining Premier League champions Chelsea.

The England player (24) will be out of contract next summer and has refused to sign a new deal at Emirates Stadium. Oxlade-Chamberlain is yet to decide if he wants to join Chelsea or Liverpool, but as things stand the only firm offer Arsenal have received is from Chelsea.

Arsenal want a deal for the former Southampton midfielder completed as quickly as possible. Oxlade-Chamberlain has been at Arsenal since 2011 and Winterburn believes the 24-year-old is pushing for a move to seek a new challenge away from the Emirates.

However, Winterburn has warned Oxlade-Chamberlain that he could find himself in an equally frustrating position at Stamford Bridge if he completes a move before tomorrow’s deadline.

“If you look at what Oxlade-Chamberlain has done so well for Arsenal, particularly at the start of last season, he’s played at wing-back and been sensational,” Winterburn (53) told Sky Sports. “So straight away he could come in and compete with (Victor) Moses as a right-wing back or play at left-wing back.

“If Oxlade-Chamberlain wants to play in midfield, is it in an advanced position? You’re up against Willian and Pedro. “He’s going to have to battle, there’s no guarantee that he is going to have a spot ahead of those players.

“So he could – he could – be in exactly the same position whether he joins Chelsea or even Liverpool as he is at Arsenal. But I think he’s decided for a fresh challenge.”

Alexis Sanchez is another first-team star at the Emirates being strongly linked with a move before the window closes tomorrow night. Manchester City have revived their interest in the Chilean playmaker in recent days and are reportedly willing to use Raheem Sterling in a swap deal.

“There’s just so much uncertainty around Arsenal at the moment,’ Winterburn said when asked about Sanchez’s future. “I was looking at Arsenal and thinking quite positively over the summer, now I’m sitting here thinking ‘what the heck is going on?’

“If Sanchez goes as well I hate to think what the atmosphere will be like in and around the stadium on match-days.

“Last season it wasn’t pleasant, Anfield on Sunday wasn’t pleasant and it could get a lot worse before it gets any better.” — Metro