Former England midfielder tips Liverpool man to make Southampton move over Aston Villa and Newcastle United

Former England and Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy ‘hopes’ Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will make the move to a club where he is guaranteed first team football next season.

The Ox is expected to move on from Anfield this summer after five-years and has been linked with a number of Premier League clubs including Aston Villa and Newcastle United.

Murphy, however, believes he’d be best suited elsewhere, somewhere he’s guaranteed first team football and noted Southampton, the place he started his career - and even Everton, as better fits.

“I think the amount of years that he spent not playing regular football would mean that his priority is football now and if that means going to a club with a lesser name then that’s what he should do,” the ex-Fulham man told BeMyBet.

“Location and family is always a factor people don’t think about, but he’s a very capable player. He’s got phenomenal ability and he should’ve done so much more in his career.

“We’ve seen glimpses of him in the Liverpool shirt where he’s been brilliant. If he can stay fit I think he would be a great addition for someone.

“I don’t think he’d do it, but I’m sure (Frank) Lampard would like having him around across the park.

“Maybe even somewhere like Southampton where he (Oxlade-Chamberlain) started his career where he can play and enjoy his football and be the main man.”

Villa boss Steven Gerrard has been linked on an off for a move for the 28-year-old in the papers so far this summer though nothing concrete has ever really come to fruition.

The same goes for Eddie Howe and Newcastle whom continue to splash the cash in the North East and whilst Murphy believes the former Arsenal midfielder is capable of playing for both the Villans and the Magpies, he thinks he wouldn’t be guaranteed first team football at either.

“I think that the problem you’ve got is that Newcastle are going to start spending on big names and progressing quite quickly,” he added.

“However he’s more than capable in playing in both those sides.

‘It’s an individual choice when you get to a certain stage in your career where you have to balance on and off the field happiness, and football.

“He’s earned good money for a long time, so I wouldn’t think his priority would be finance.

“I really like him, I like watching him play, I like the dynamism he’s got, I like his energy.

“I hope he goes somewhere where he’s going to play every week and we don’t see him sitting on the bench somewhere just to get an extra 10 or 20 grand a week.”

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. BirminghamWorld is Birmingham’s latest news website, championing everything that is great about our city - reporting on news, lifestyle and sport. Find out more about who’s who in the team, and our editorial values. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram, and keep the conversation going.