(Credit: Getty, Imago)

Evan Shaw

Mon 18 May 2026 10:15, UK

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Celtic cannot allow their Scottish Premiership title triumph to cloud their judgement when it comes to deciding the future of midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain this summer.

The 32-year-old is due to leave Parkhead at the end of his short-term contract this summer, although the club hold a clause that allows them to trigger an automatic one-year extension option.

The former Liverpool star was brought in by Martin O’Neill at the start of February to help provide further quality and depth in the middle of the park, and has since started five games in the league.

However, he has been an unused substitute for the Bhoys in the final stages of their post-split fixtures, including last weekend’s crucial title decider against Hearts.

Celtic beat Hearts to get over the line, meaning that they have achieved the goal that Oxlade-Chamberlain’s signing set out to do, but they must think carefully when it comes to their next move.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain not influential enough for extension

Oxlade-Chamberlain has endured his fair share of injury issues in recent years, but his trophy-winning experience was clearly something that O’Neill saw huge value in.

However, the veteran has perhaps not had the impact that many were expecting from him at Celtic Park, as he has failed to truly nail down a place in the starting XI.

Oxlade-Chamberlain arrived at a stage of the campaign when Celtic were extremely thin in terms of their midfield options, but Arne Engels’ return from injury has seen him come straight back into the fold of late.

Engels’ return has cast Oxlade-Chamberlain to the side somewhat, and his winning goals against St Mirren and Livingston now feel like a distant memory.

Those strikes helped the team to secure an ultimately crucial six points, so he has undoubtedly played his part in the title win, but he surely hasn’t done enough to justify that extension being triggered.

Oxlade-Chamberlain will likely be commanding significant wages at Parkhead at the moment, and this year’s squad must be improved upon, given that it almost saw Celtic relinquish its grip on the league.

Martin O’Neill clear over Oxlade-Chamberlain’s future at Celtic

Football Insider revealed back in April that O’Neill is keen for Oxlade-Chamberlain to have his deal extended by Celtic this summer.

The 74-year-old interim boss is expected to make way for a new permanent appointment ahead of next season, but he is prepared to vouch for Oxlade-Chamberlain regardless of who takes charge.

The manager is understood to have strong faith in the veteran’s ability to perform, and he is keen to see his efforts rewarded with that new deal in the coming months.

Ultimately, O’Neill’s opinion is unlikely to be final given that he is expected to relinquish control soon, but his takes still hold plenty of weight behind the scenes.