Southampton bringing back former star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to St Mary's would be a fairy-tale signing, says journalist Pete O'Rourke.

The Liverpool midfielder has been linked with an exit from Anfield and could see his former club as a potential next destination, with the Saints plotting a return for his services.

Is a Liverpool exit likely for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain?

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain signed for Liverpool from Arsenal in the summer of 2017, and the 29-year-old has collected a glut at trophies at Anfield - including the Champions League in 2019 and the Reds' Premier League triumph a year later.

However, his game time has been reduced at Anfield after suffering a number of injuries in the last two seasons at the club, and he has struggled to nail down a spot in Jurgen Klopp's team.

Despite his versatility, the former England star is out of contract at the end of the season and it looks unlikely that the club will offer him a new deal.

So far this season the midfielder has made just four appearances for the club, and is yet to start a game for Jurgen Klopp's side, who have endured a stuttering first half of the campaign.

What does O'Rourke say about a possible Southampton return for Oxlade-Chamberlain?

O'Rourke believes that if Saints were to bring back the star, who came through their academy, it would be a dream move for the club.

O'Rourke told GIVEMESPORT: "It would be a fairytale signing I think for Southampton, if they were to bring back Oxlade-Chamberlain who came through their successful youth academy. He was a big player for them, before selling them on to Arsenal and then eventually Liverpool signing him from Arsenal as well."

Would Southampton benefit from a return for Oxlade-Chamberlain?

A move for Oxlade-Chamberlain would mirror Southampton's re-signing of Theo Walcott from Everton in 2020 on a loan deal - a move that was eventually made permanent at the end of that season.

Oxlade-Chamberlain made 43 appearances for then League One Southampton as a teenager, before he moved to Arsenal in 2011 as a 17-year-old.

Nathan Jones' side would be getting a very different Oxlade-Chamberlain if they were to make an offer for the midfielder, and given his injury record would prove a gamble for the club.

It would also present a slight change in policy for Southampton, who have focused their recruitment in recent windows on young up-and-coming players, which has seen the likes of Romeo Lavia and Armel Bella-Kotchap arrive at the club.

Southampton currently sit second from bottom in the Premier League, so any move for the 47-goal Oxlade-Chamberlain may depend on if the South Coast club stay in the top flight.