Very interesting pod from the Annie Wrap late last night with The Times excellent journalist Jonathan Northcroft, in his car on his way home from some press award gig in Manchester, talking in the main about Oxlade-Chamberlain.
(Unfortunately, unless you're a subscriber, it's behind the pay wall:
https://www.theanfieldwrap.com/2017...erpool-transfers-oxlade-chamberlain-van-dijk/).
It was interesting in so much as Northcroft was saying he was made aware back in Jan/ Feb of this year that Oxlade-Chamberlain wanted a fresh challenge and out of Arsenal, and he's preference was L'pool as his next career move having seen what Klopp had done for a host of talented players like Lallana in bringing them to their full potential. Then as soon as L'pool became interested not long after, his mind was made up.
So Arsenal never had much of any chance of keeping him. And Chelsea or anyone else never had much of any chance of swaying him to go to them as this is all about development and fulfilling his potential for Alex at the best place under the best manager he see's above any financial gain.
Interesting that Jonathan also forsee's, through players he speaks to, that being more a more a factor in players thinking going forward being as they're already paid a Kings ransom now (for example Alex making £6 million a year over 5 years at Anfield. What's another £2 million a year at Arsenal. Or 3 or 4 at Chelsea?), that career development and the right club on the pitch for them will become more and more a factor over just going to a club that can pay the highest wages. Which would level a lot at the very top end from a certain few clubs who can spend more World wide on salary than anyone else.
I hope he writes a piece on that going forward because it's an interesting thing to consider as players outlooks change now they're maxing out on what they can earn before it just becomes pure greed.
But it's great in the instance of Oxlade-Chamberlian to know Klopp yet again is the defining factor of a player wanting to come here over far greater financial reward elsewhere. Along with it being real refreshing he's turned down far higher salary offers to try better himself and develop into the top player he feels his talents deserve where he'll get the increased salary down the line if he achieves that aim.
The Anfield Wrap
