Credit: Imago

Oliver Walton

Thu 14 May 2026 18:13, UK

Follow us on Google Discover

Celtic midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is surely set to leave the club this summer as he struggles to have an impact on their title charge under Martin O’Neill.

Oxlade-Chamberlain joined Celtic in February on an initial short-term contract, having been without a club since leaving Besiktas last August.

He made an immediate impact with a late winner against Livingston in his debut for the club, but has since struggled to nail down a regular spot in the starting eleven.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s absence from the Hoops’ last three vital games should make it obvious that the club are planning to let him leave this summer.

It remains to be seen if he has an impact in Celtic’s next match against Hearts, but recent weeks would suggest that he will be fortunate to even get on the pitch in their winner-takes-all clash at Parkhead.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain must be nearing Celtic exit as Martin O’Neill changes his mind

Sources exclusively revealed to Football Insider last month that O’Neill was pushing for Oxlade-Chamberlain to be handed a new contract after some strong form.

That news came mere days after his winner against St. Mirren in the Premiership and an impressive cameo in the Hoops’ 6-2 cup win against Craig McLeish’s side.

He has since only managed 12 minutes off the bench in Celtic’s four post-split fixtures so far, and has remained an unused substitute in their last three games against Hibs, Rangers and Motherwell.

O’Neill has clearly decided that he does not trust the 32-year-old in high-pressure situations, even though his wealth of experience in the game should theoretically come in handy as Celtic chase Hearts down.

Oxlade-Chamberlain is a waste of wages when sat on the bench, and his recent snub from the Celtic side surely points towards the club not triggering the option to extend his contract by another year this summer, regardless of who their next manager is.

Celtic’s intense midfield hunt also boosts chances of Oxlade-Chamberlain exit

Oxlade-Chamberlain is already down the midfield pecking order at Parkhead, and their constant links to new players in his position should also show where his future lies beyond this season.

Football Insider’s sources have revealed that Celtic have set their sights on signing Marc Leonard after his impressive loan spell at rivals Hearts from Birmingham City.

Schalke midfielder Soufiane El-Faouzi has emerged as another midfield target for the Hoops, while they have been linked to Hibs star Miguel Chaiwa and Venezia’s Issa Doumbia.

They are clearly planning to make major additions in the middle of the park, with Oxlade-Chamberlain surely on his way out as a result.