Southampton and Fulham join Sheffield United in Oxlade-Chamberlain race | OneFootball

The former Liverpool attacker is attracting interest over a potential return to English football, following his debut season with Besiktas.

Fulham and Southampton have reportedly joined Sheffield United in the race to sign Besiktas attacking midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, per Sabah.

The former Liverpool player only made the move to the Turkish giants last summer, but could be set for a return to English football this summer.

Now 30, the former England international has been linked with a surprising move to Championship side Sheffield United, but now the Blades appear to be facing Premier League competition for his signature.

Even if Sheffield United do possess an interest in Oxlade-Chamberlain, the situation regarding the looming takeover of the club means Blades boss Chris Wilder has his hands tied both in the transfer market, and in extending the contracts of his current players.

Oxlade-Chamberlain wanted by Premier League duo

According to a report from Turkish news outlet Sabah, Premier League sides Fulham and Southampton have entered the race to sign Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer.

Sabah have recently revealed that Besiktas intend to sell the former Premier League star this summer, and that Oxlade-Chamberlain is interested in a return to England.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has reportedly been earning a base salary of €2.5m euros (£2.2m) per season at Besiktas, and has been able to earn up to 10,000 euros (£8,600) a match depending on his playing time.​

As a weekly wage, that comes out at approximately anywhere from £40,000 per week at the lower end, to a maximum of £50,000 per week.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is contracted to the Turkish club until 2026, having signed a three-year contract with Besiktas last summer following his release from Liverpool.

These are the kind of wages that Sheffield United simply can not afford to pay, with Wilder expecting to be working with loan deals and free transfers this summer.

Therefore, Blades signing Oxlade-Chamberlain looked a long shot to begin with, but now with Premier League clubs reportedly in the mix, they are likely to be priced out of a move for the Englishman as those clubs can afford to pay a premium wage packet.

Blades may be wise to avoid Oxlade-Chamberlain deal

Not only would the capture of Oxlade-Chamberlain pose as a significant financial investment that the club can't afford to make at the moment, it would also become a huge risk given his track record of injuries.

Spending extended time on the treatment tables of practically every club he's played for, injuries have been something that the Premier League and Champions League winner has never been able to keep from his game.

Having missed 18 games for Besiktas last season, Oxlade-Chamberlain's body has once again failed him, in what will not fill Blades fans with confidence that he will be able to sustain an entire Championship season, should he arrive at Bramall Lane.

The former Arsenal attacker wasn't overly productive when he was able to lace up his boots last season, with just four goals and one assist in 30 appearances in all competitions - per FotMob.

In what looks to be a season where Wilder will need all his players fit and firing should they harbour ambitions of Premier League promotion, Oxlade-Chamberlain would be a very costly absentee should his injury history repeat itself.

Therefore, Sheffield United