According to The Telegraph, Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks certain to leave Arsenal on a permanent basis this summer.
The midfielder is on loan at West Bromwich Albion at the moment and is scheduled to return to his parent club Arsenal at the end of the season.
The Daily Mail has claimed that Everton, Manchester United, Leeds United and Southampton are keen on the 23-year-old, who can play as a midfielder or as a full-back.
The Telegraph has reported that the England international – described as “absolutely brilliant” by former Leeds star Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink on Sky Sports Premier League (1:48pm, February 14, 2021) – almost left Arsenal last summer and ‘looks certain’ to do so this time around.
One of the reasons why Maitland-Niles left Arsenal for West Brom on loan in the January transfer window was due to his preference to play in central midfield.
The 23-year-old has been used as a full-back by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.
It is unlikely that Arteta will change his mind about Maitland-Niles’s position, and one suspects that the youngster will leave Arsenal for good this summer.
True, Arsenal are a massive club and are a global brand, but if Maitland-Niles wants to progress in the position he wants to play in, then an exit would make sense.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
