Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles has agreed personal terms with Roma ahead of the January transfer window, Correire Dello Sport claims.
Personal terms agreed
They say that the England international is now ready to leave Arsenal and is prepared to join Jose Mourinho’s side in the new year.
Roma have been pressing to sign the 24-year-old from Arsenal for some time.
He has struggled for game time with Mikel Arteta’s men, and his desire for more regular first-team football could now see him move abroad.
Maitland-Niles has made eight Premier League appearances for the Gunners this term, but only two of these have come as a starter.
Roma are said to be willing to offer him a salary worth around £40,000-a-week, which he is prepared to accept.
Maitland-Niles would link up with fellow Englishman Tammy Abraham if he was to make the move to the Serie A side.
One obstacle left
The only issue standing in the way of a deal being completed now is apparently the price.
Arsenal want around £12.5 million for their academy graduate, who has been hailed as ‘fantastic’ by Martin Keown, but Roma are hoping to land him for £8.5 million.
Whether the difference can be negotiated remains to be seen, but Roma are apparently keen to get the deal done as soon as possible.
Maitland-Niles’ departure may actually come at a bad time for Arsenal, however.
Takehiro Tomiyasu, their first choice right-back, is currently out with covid, while their midfield options are set to be reduced because Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are both off to the African Cup of Nations next month.
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