Arsenal offer Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain £100,000-a-week as Chelsea prepare huge bid for versatile midfielder

ALEX OXLADE-CHAMBERLAIN is set to hold further contract talks with Arsenal as Chelsea reportedly prepare a £35million bid for the England ace.

The Ox is out of contract next summer and Blues boss Antonio Conte is ready to take advantage by launching a tempting offer before the end of the transfer window.

However, Arsenal are keen to keep him at the Emirates and have already held talks over extending his current deal.

But the Gunners are now ready to step things up a notch by making Oxlade-Chamberlain one of their best-paid players on £100,000-a-week, reports the .

That could tempt him to stay put in north London, and Arsene Wenger appeared confident that an agreement can be reached.

Speaking last week, he said: “I rate him highly, he is one of the players who is on his way up and has made huge progress. Personally I want him to stay here for a long time.”

Arsenal also know they risk upsetting fans by letting Oxlade-Chamberlain leave, especially for rivals Chelsea.

Alexis Sanchez already looks set to leave the club after failing to extend his own contract.

While Mesut Ozil is also lining up a free transfer next summer after ending the final 12 months of his deal.

However, Oxlade-Chamberlain could yet decide that he prefers a new challenge rather than more money, with Liverpool also interested.

And should he leave, Arsenal may be forced to enter the transfer market late on for reinforcements yet again.