Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has tonight agreed a £40m move to Liverpool - and it left Chelsea furious.

Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, turned down Chelsea who feel they have “been played” by Liverpool to try to force Arsenal into selling to them.

The Gunners were reluctant to sell to their Anfield rivals because of bad blood between the clubs dating back to their botched attempt to buy the Reds' Luis Suarez in 2013.

But once Arsenal had made up their minds they wanted to offload him and agreed a fee with Chelsea, the player rejected the move and Liverpool swooped. The Gunners were left with nowhere else to go.

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(Image: David Price)

Football Spy transfer update August 30th

Oxlade-Chamberlain will sign a six year deal, has been given permission to miss England’s flight to Malta if the deal is not completed and had a medical at St George’s Park on Wednesday night.

The loss of the midfielder will be seen as a blow by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger, who has been adamant in recent weeks that he wants to keep the player at the Emirates Stadium.

(Image: PA)

(Image: Getty)

He told Arsenal he would not sign a new deal, turned down an offer of £180,000-a-week and can leave on a free transfer next summer.

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Oxlade-Chamberlain preferred a switch to Liverpool where he would play midfield and believes he can improve and develop his England career.