By Sam Bisby
1 Jul 2011 15:14:00
FA Cup,Alex Chamberlain,Southampton vs Manchester United(Getty Images)
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Southampton manager Nigel Adkins is staying resolute in the possibility of starlet Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain leaving for Arsenal and insists he’s not going anywhere yet.
Arsene Wenger’s side attempted to bring in the young midfielder in January’s transfer window, but it failed to materialise and Chamberlain stayed with the Saints for the remainder of the season.
However, with the summer’s transfer window now open, the Gunners look to be stepping up their interest in the player once more.
Adkins though remains defiant over the possible transfer of the 17-year-old and says the north London outfit are yet to make an official move.
“We had the same sort of scenario in January, he was going to go but he didn’t,” he told Sky Sports News.
“I think it will be interesting when it does materialise, whether it’s Arsenal or whoever starts talking to the football club.
“I had a conversation with Alex last week, he’s been doing a little bit of training, he really loves being at Southampton – it’s as simple as that.
“I think probably there’s conversations going on in the boardroom at Arsenal about players who are going to leave and maybe they would like to target.
“If Arsenal wanted to put a bid in, they’d put a bid in the right manner. This football club will then go and decide what to do with that bid – if it’s offered.”
Chamberlain sat out the final two months of the campaign due to injury, but that has not put off Wenger remaining interested in the youngster.
The player’s current manager believes Chamberlain is a great talent, but does not want him to move on too early and become “lost” amongst higher profile footballers.
“We believe he’s very good, he didn’t play for the last two months of the season because he was out injured. We did manage to get him on the pitch for the last half hour of our final game. He is talented and he’s come a long, long way in a very short space of time.
“It’s important he keeps playing football land doesn’t get lost like so many who do get lost, who move onto other clubs and don’t get to do what they want to do. He has a great opportunity at Southampton.”