Chelsea have agreed a fee of around £35m with Arsenal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
The 24-year-old, who has entered the final 12 months of his contract, had been offered new and improved terms to commit his future to Arsenal but made clear towards the end of last week that his preference was to seek a new challenge.
Liverpool had also been interested in Oxlade-Chamberlain, who had been secured from Southampton in 2011, but the 24-year-old’s preference was always to remain in the capital.
Personal terms are unlikely to prove an issue, with Antonio Conte hoping a versatile player will challenge Victor Moses at right wing-back and bolster his midfield options with a Champions League campaign ahead.
Oxlade-Chamberlain could yet be joined at Stamford Bridge by Leicester City’s Danny Drinkwater, with talks ongoing between the clubs.
There is interest, too, in Ross Barkley at Everton – the attacking midfielder is in rehabilitation from a torn hamstring and will not be available until the new year – and Swansea City are braced for a bid for the Spain forward Fernando Llorente.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is part of Gareth Southgate’s England squad and is due to travel to Malta for the World Cup qualifier on Thursday – transfer deadline day.
