David Ornstein has reported fresh information about Ainsley Maitland-Niles at Arsenal.
The 24-year-old is heavily linked with a move to Jose Mourinho’s Roma this month.
The Italian outfit were reported to have agreed an initial loan deal to sign the Arsenal utility man.
But Ornstein has written for The Athletic that the Gunners are now ‘dragging their heels’ in terms of negotiations.
It’s frustrating for Mourinho because the Serie A side want the deal to go through ‘imminently’, given that they face AC Milan and Juventus this week.
Risky tactics
If Arsenal really are dragging their heels, like Ornstein says, it’s a dangerous way of doing things.
That’s because the English journalist added that Mourinho’s team are identifying alternative targets in the event that they cannot sign Maitland-Niles.
Having started two Premier League games this season, the Gunners appear to have very little use for Maitland-Niles – who himself reportedly wants the deal to happen – right now.
And offloading him makes sense, particularly if it winds up being a permanent deal, which has also been touted.
Arsenal can be difficult to negotiate with these days but it certainly seems beneficial for all parties if this transfer goes through as smoothly and as quick as possible.
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