Darren Bent has told talkSPORT that Ainsley Maitland-Niles will feel like a spare part and may find it disheartening if Arsenal deny him a Deadline Day transfer to Everton.
The England ace is desperate to leave the Emirates Stadium before Tuesday night’s shutoff, and has publicly asked to leave. Maitland-Niles shared a post on his Instagram on Monday, reading: “All I wanna do is go where I’m wanted and where I’m gonna play.”
Everton have spoken with Arsenal over a potential last-ditch loan for Maitland-Niles, as per The Athletic. Who add the 24-year-old will speak with Mikel Arteta on Tuesday afternoon to request permission to move to Goodison Park.
Arsenal rejected Everton’s initial offer for Maitland-Niles that featured an option to buy the versatile midfielder-come-defender. The Telegraph also report the Gunners will make their £52,000-per-week academy graduate train alone if kept.
Bent believes Maitland-Niles will find his situation frustrating if Arsenal continue to reject Everton’s approaches.
“I can’t sit here now and say: ‘What he’s done is out of order’. Because I did it when I left Spurs, when I publicly tweeted,” Bent said. “If the club are not allowing him to go then I can understand his frustration, because of course he’s under contract at the club and they’re saying that they don’t want him to go.
“But if he’s not going to feature and they’re just holding him there for the sake of it, then it is a bit disheartening for him to be there. I’ve been there, you feel like a spare part. You go into training and you’re on the other team, where you’re basically just chasing shadows. I know he’s going to be getting paid well and he’s at Arsenal, but these things still hurt.”
Should Arsenal let Maitland-Niles join Everton on Deadline Day?
Arteta seemingly has no intention of playing Maitland-Niles after he publicly asked Arsenal to let him join Everton. He would also have competition from Cedric Soares and Calum Chambers, even if Hector Bellerin were to leave. While the Gunners are also close to a deal for Japan international Takehiro Tomiyasu, with his medical underway in Bologna.
So, Maitland-Niles faces being fifth-choice at right-back in a worst-case scenario. He is also unlikely to play in midfield after Arteta brought in Albert Sambi Lokonga and Granit Xhaka signed a new contract. So, it is no surprise that the 24-year-old wants to leave for a club where he will play regularly. And that may be Everton if the Toffees offer an enticing deal.
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