Football: Klopp brands Oxlade-Chamberlain reports ‘nonsense’

Arsenal's Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain pulls up injured after coming on as a substitute during the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester City and Arsenal at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester, Britain, on Dec 18, 2016. PHOTO: EPA

LONDON (AFP) - Reports linking Liverpool with a January move for Arsenal midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are "nonsense", the Merseyside club's manager Jurgen Klopp said on Thursday (Dec 29).

British media reports suggest Liverpool will make a move for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has been in and out of the Arsenal first team, when the transfer window opens next week. But Klopp said he had no interest in the 23-year-old England international.

"I don't usually say anything about transfer rumours, but I can make an exception. Nonsense," he said. "This kind of thing I think a lot about, but I say nothing because it is really not interesting what I think about this.

"You (the media) are already on a path so do with it what you want, but from our side nothing else to say about it."

Klopp was speaking ahead of his side's home game with Manchester City on New Year's Eve, which pits second against third in the Premier League table.

"If I didn't sit on the bench I would buy a ticket for this game, 100 per cent," said Klopp, whose side trail leaders Chelsea by six points.

The German confirmed that neither centre-back Joel Matip nor playmaker Philippe Coutinho will be able to play due to ankle injuries.

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