The report in the British tabloid has claimed that the Gunners are looking for £30 million as transfer fee for Maitland-Niles, who can operate as a midfielder, winger, full-back or wing-back.
It has been reported that with Sokratis and Shkodran Mustafi ‘not commanding much value in the transfer market’, Arsenal have decided that the 22-year-old ‘has to be sacrificed to at least bring in some decent money’.
Surprise decision
Arsenal’s reported decision to sell Maitland-Niles will come as a surprise to many fans, as the 22-year-old did well this past season, with head coach Mikel Arteta telling Football.London in January 2020 that he is “a very useful player with great speed, technically gifted, a good passer of the ball”.
The youngster’s versatility is a boon for the Gunners, and given his age and his potential, he will get better in the coming years.
Huge transfer fee
While Maitland-Niles is a very talented player, it is hard to see any club pay £30 million for him this summer.
The youngster is not a regular in the Gunners’ first team, and in the current economic climate, not many clubs will be willing to cough up £30m for a 22-year-old.
According to WhoScored, Maitland-Niles made 15 starts and five substitute appearances in the Premier League, and made four starts and two substitute appearances in the Europa League for Arsenal this past season.
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