Simon Jordan has claimed that Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to make an ‘interesting’ move from Arsenal to AS Roma, as he told talkSPORT.
The former Crystal Palace owner claimed that the versatile Arsenal midfielder joining up with Jose Mourinho could be a ‘good move for the kid’.
There was talk about Maitland-Niles possibly leaving in the summer, and despite him expressing his frustration on social media about not getting a move, he stayed put at his boyhood club.
His game time hasn’t changed in north London since then, with only two Premier League starts for the Hale-End academy product.
But it seems as though he has flown to Rome on Wednesday ahead of a straight-up loan move to the Serie A giants, as reported by Sky Sports.
If the Englishman does move, then he will join ex-Tottenham boss Mourinho and Jordan backed the idea of the duo linking up.
“He has voiced his disappointment, the player, earlier on in the season about not getting enough game time,” said Jordan. “He was kind of told to ‘get back in his box and earn his place’.
“Roma and Mourinho is an interesting one, isn’t it? It’s working out for the Chelsea boy that’s gone over, for Tammy (Abraham).
“They are okay Roma. They aren’t pulling up any trees. They are sixth in the league and aren’t doing much than what Fonseca has done. But they are still in the race.
“I have always been in the camp that Mourinho has always been a decent coach. And his day hasn’t gone. We are seeing some of the things he said in the past about players that are now coming to the fore. I think it could be a good move for the kid.”
There are already a number of Englishman plying their trade at Roma, including Chris Smalling and Tammy Abraham.
Ex-Chelsea man Abraham made a transfer to Italy in the summer and he has thrived since then.
That’s a good sign for Maitland-Niles that, not only can he get his career back on track, but take it to the next level.
It needs to be remembered, only 12 months ago, he was making his England debut and now, he is nowhere near Gareth Southgate’s set-up.
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