Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
CONTE HAS HIS SIGHTS ON THE OX
By holding on to most big stars but tips City to edge out United to the title
CHELSEA are ready to pay up to £35million for Alex Oxlade-chamberlain. Blues boss Antonio Conte is a huge fan of the Arsenal midfielder and is stepping up efforts to tempt him across London. Oxlade-chamberlain, 23, (left) is now poised to test Arsenal’s resolve to hang on to him. He has one year left on his contract and Conte hopes a big-money offer will persuade them to do business. Though talks at Arsenal have stalled, Oxlade-chamberlain is part of Arsene Wenger’s plans.
The Gunners boss said: “I think he is a hugely talented player. He is on the way up and will continue to move up. I personally believe he will be a very great player.” GARY LINEKER believes the most important thing Tottenham have done is to retain all the players they want to keep.
But he admits they may be hampered by their move away from White Hart Lane to Wembley while their new home is built.
With just a day until the start of the new Premier League season, Spurs are the only side yet to bring in at least one new face.
And their approach has raised eyebrows, but Spurs legend Lineker can understand why there has been no rush due to the strength of their existing first team.
That includes the likes of Hugo Lloris, Toby Alderweireld, Danny Rose, Eric Dier, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen (above with manager Mauricio Pochettino) and Harry Kane.
They all have admirers across Europe, but are all still at Spurs – last season’s runners-up.
Kyle Walker is the only big name Spurs have allowed to leave in a £54million switch to rivals Manchester City.
And BT Sport pundit Lineker said: “The most important thing for Spurs I thought was keeping their key players, with the (h) (h) (a) (a) (h) (a)
(a) exception of Walker in a position where they are really well covered, they have managed to do.
“Sometimes you can bring in people, but it doesn’t help and can hinder. Spurs need to strengthen their squad and I suspect they will.
“But the reason they haven’t brought in three or four big players like other teams at the top of the league have done is that they were pretty strong last season.
‘‘And Spurs are also not one of the giant spenders traditionally anyway.”
But with the north Londoners losing one major advantage they had last season in their old stadium, Lineker added: “If they were still at White Hart Lane I would fancy them for the title. But they are not and that does make a difference.
‘‘It is baffling I suppose as to why, but it is familiarity and particularly following a season when they were so good at home it makes it difficult. If they finish in the top four again it will be a really good effort this season.”
After the London battle for last season’s league between Spurs and eventual champions Chelsea, Lineker feels the title is Manchesterbound this time.
“I would pick one of the Manchester clubs – it might be a close battle between them,” he added.
“If you push me I would lean just towards City at the moment, but there are still three weeks of the transfer window left so usually a few last-minute things happen. It will be very open.”