Filed under: Arsenal, Championship, Premier League, Football, Southampton
It's not been the most memorable of summers so far for Arsene Wenger, what with everyone and his dog seemingly set on leaving the Emirates Stadium, coupled with mounting frustrations on potential in-coming transfers ahead of the rapidly-approaching new campaign.So the last thing the Arsenal manager needed was Nigel Adkins, his counterpart at Southampton, adding to his discomfort by aiming a sly dig in the direction of the Frenchman, in the latest instalment of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's 'will-he-won't he' move to North London.
Not that the Saints' man isn't without justification in effectively telling Wenger, and the numerous other suitors for his much-coveted England under-21 midfielder who include both Manchester clubs and Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid, to put up or shut up in their pursuit of his prize asset.
Adkins, who is set to add £750,000 Chelsea midfielder Jack Cork to his ranks at the St Mary's Stadium ahead of the club's return to the Championship, has understandably grown somewhat fed-up with the increasingly public courting of the prodigious teenager.
He has challenged the 17-year-old's admirers to put their money where their mouths are for a player rated in the £12 million bracket.
Contradicting reports last month that the Gunners had agreed an eight-figure fee for the youngster, Adkins told the BBC: "There's always going to be interest in Alex, not just from Arsenal but from every football club in this country and abroad.
"We have not received any bids for him and until we do there is nothing to discuss."
No doubt the speculation will continue after Oxlade-Chamberlain returns from Southampton's imminent pre-season tour. This in the wake of the youngster's outstanding contribution to the club's promotion season, when he provided 11 goals and nine assists in 43 appearances to earn inclusion in the League One team of the year in what was his break-through campaign.
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