Celtic have all the evidence they need to extend Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain deal after win vs St Mirren

Celtic will surely be looking to keep midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain beyond the end of his current deal after he netted the winner in their 1-0 win over St Mirren.

The former Liverpool star initially penned a deal until the end of the season when he joined Martin O’Neill’s squad back in February, with the club holding the option to extend those terms by a further year.

The 32-year-old’s arrival at Celtic Park was initially met with a mixed reaction from supporters, but he has begun to come into his own in recent weeks.

Oxlade-Chamberlain appears to be growing in importance for the Bhoys with every passing week, and his two goals have already directly earned the team six points in their quest for the Scottish Premiership title.

Celtic’s transfer plans for the summer are largely set to be dictated by the appointment of a new manager, but it would be a huge surprise if they are not already eyeing up that extension clause.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain turns in game-leading display vs St Mirren

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s impact was questioned by Celtic supporters in the immediate aftermath of his arrival, but he has since been working hard to win over everyone connected to the club.

His clinical strike in Saturday’s win was crucial to ensure that O’Neill’s men keep the heat turned up on Hearts and Rangers at the top of the table, but his performance was about far more than just his goal.

The veteran was energetic alongside Callum McGregor at the heart of the midfield, and he created more chances than anybody else on the pitch at Parkhead.

Oxlade-Chamberlain also won 60 per cent of his duels and worked hard to break up the play against an opposition team that had few chances to break forward during the 90 minutes.

It was another assured midfield display from the former Champions League winner, and one which will surely have given the Celtic hierarchy all the evidence they need to decide to extend his stay.

Much of the recruitment team’s work in the summer will depend on who takes the reins in the dugout, but it would surely be a good move to trigger that clause and get Oxlade-Chamberlain signed up for another year regardless.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has already proven Celtic question to be wrong

Former Aberdeen chief executive Keith Wyness told Football Insider that there were major “question marks” over Oxlade-Chamberlain’s fitness when he first joined Celtic.

The former Arsenal academy graduate was without a club for the first half of the season, and had reached the benchmark of 20 league appearances just once in the last five years.

His injury record undoubtedly made his signing something of a gamble for the Bhoys, but it hasn’t taken him long to get up to speed with the pace of the Scottish Premiership.

The midfielder is slowly starting to get his match sharpness back, and his performances have been improving with every passing game of late.

O’Neill’s midfield options have been boosted by Arne Engels’ return from injury, but it would still be no surprise to see the boss lean heavily on Oxlade-Chamberlain’s experience after the league split.

The post Celtic have all the evidence they need to extend Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain deal after win vs St Mirren appeared first on Football Insider.