OXLADE AGONY
Midfielder out for season as Alisson deal is agreed
LIVERPOOL midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is set to miss the whole of the season after the full extent of his knee injury was revealed last night. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp, who was last night closing in on a £66.8million deal for Roma goalkeeper Alisson, says a competitive game before the end of the campaign would be a “bonus” for Oxlade-Chamberlain. The 24-year-old suffered multiple ligament damage during Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final first-leg win over Roma in April. He was told a few days later he would likely miss most of the following season. He chose to keep that information under wraps from his team-mates
with only Klopp, his coaching staff and the medical team aware.
Oxlade-Chamberlain said he did not want to take away any momentum from Klopp’s side as they went in search of Champions League glory.
“We’ve known this from pretty much the day after he got the injury,” said Klopp. “And after the successful surgery we were sure of it.
“There has been no change, no setback – it’s exactly on the schedule we expected and planned for. His surgery – which he had on the day of our second leg in Rome – has been completely successful and his recovery has started superbly well.
“But the truth of the matter is that we are preparing this season knowing he will not be with us on the pitch for competitive matches for the majority of it.
“If we do see him back this season, it will be a bonus.”
Roma keeper Alisson is on the verge of joining the Reds and becoming the world’s most expensive goalkeeper.
Liverpool have agreed to pay the Italian side an initial £57.9m plus a further £8.9m in add-ons after a failed bid of £62m on Tuesday.
Alisson is now free to discuss personal terms, which are understood to be a formality, before having a medical.
It is understood the Brazil No1 will be their final signing of the summer as a deal for Lyon ace Nabil Fekir appears unlikely.