Liverpool bid for Saints prodigy

Kenny Dalglish will try to convince Southampton wonderkid Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to turn his back on a move to Arsenal.

Liverpool have entered the £10million race to land the England Under 19 forward in their attempts to lure the brightest young English talent to Merseyside.

Dalglish followed up the £35m signing of Andy Carroll in January with a £20m swoop for Jordan Henderson last week.

And the Scot is due to hold talks with  Oxlade-Chamberlain's representatives in an attempt to persuade them that the 17-year-old's future is at Anfield.

The teenager looked on course for a move to the Emirates this summer after the Gunners re-opened discussions with Saints.

Sources close to Oxlade-Chamberlain insist the exciting forward favours a move to the Emirates, and his father, former England winger Mark Chamberlain, underlined that by claiming the youngster wanted his move to Arsenal completed as soon as possible.

Arsene Wenger came close to signing the player in January, but the move collapsed due to Saints insisting on a 40 per cent sell-on clause, a demand that remains the main stumbling block for Arsenal.

But Liverpool are confident they can negotiate a deal, clearing the path for a move if Dalglish can convince the player that joining Liverpool is in his best interests.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will return with a £10m bid for Chris Samba. Sportsmail revealed last month how the Gunners had tabled an £8m bid for the Blackburn centre back, which was rejected.

Source: Daily Mail

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