Alex goes to Anfield

Liverpool have agreed to sign England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain from Arsenal for about $52 million, British media reported on Wednesday. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger spoke last week of his desire to keep the 24-year-old Oxlade-Chamberlain. But the player had his heart set on a move to Liverpool, who beat Arsenal 4-0 in the league on Sunday, and rebuffed Chelsea’s advances.

Calderon move

Chelsea are close to an agreement to sell Diego Costa to Atletico Madrid in a deal worth up to £50 million. The clubs have discussed an initial payment of about £40 million with the rest in additional fees for the striker, who has not returned to the west London club this season.

Atletico can sign the player but cannot register him until January because of a transfer ban imposed by Fifa.

In demand

 Leicester City forward Riyad Mahrez has been allowed to leave the Algeria training camp to “formalise” a transfer on deadline day, the Algerian Football Federation said on Thursday. Mahrez  has been the subject of bids from Italian club Roma. Several Premier League clubs are also likely to be keen to sign the 26-year-old, who has scored 35 goals for Leicester since arriving from French club Le Havre in 2014.

Third signing

Tottenham Hotspur completed their third signing of the transfer window when defender Juan Foyth joined the Premier League club from Argentina’s Estudiantes on Wednesday. Spurs said the 19-year-old, reportedly a target for Paris St Germain, had signed a five-year deal. Last week they signed Colombia central defender Davinson Sanchez from Ajax Amsterdam and they have also brought in goalkeeper Paulo Gazzaniga from Southampton.