Arsenal will now reportedly look to sell Ainsley Maitland-Niles in the final weeks of the summer transfer window after the midfielder was cut from the Gunners squad this weekend that faced Leicester City.
According to the Times, Arsenal will attempt to sell the England international after Maitland-Niles was omitted from Mikel Arteta’s 18-man squad that won 4-2 against the Foxes this Saturday, with the 24-year-old one of a handful of players the Gunners are keen to offload in this window.
Hector Bellerin is reportedly close to leaving north London for a permanent return to Real Betis whilst Nicolas Pepe is also linked with a departure from Arsenal, and Maitland-Niles could be the next name to leave the Emirates following last week’s exits of Pablo Mari and Lucas Torreira.
Whilst Maitland-Niles could be a utility player for Arsenal based on how versatile the midfielder has been over the years, it is clear that the Hale End academy graduate and the club are eager for a clean break, though finding a buyer is proving hard to find this summer.
Nottingham Forest have been reported as interested in Maitland-Niles, however, despite signing seemingly everyone under the sun this window, Steve Cooper’s side are yet to make an official move for the Arsenal outcast, with a Premier League move the most likely outcome for the 24-year-old in the coming weeks.
Indeed, Arsenal could receive a good fee for Maitland-Niles this summer, but with time running out to complete a deal, the Gunners could once again have to settle for either a loan or selling the versatile midfielder for cheap, like most players the north London side have offloaded in recent years.
Arsenal have to do all they can to sell Maitland-Niles this summer
With Maitland-Niles not even making the bench for Arsenal this weekend against Leicester, the midfielder’s future at the club is clearly away from north London, and with three weeks of the window remaining, the Gunners must now do all they can to sell the talented Hale End product.
Whilst Maitland-Niles could have been a useful player for the Gunners this season, the 24-year-old is clearly eager to play regular football away from Arsenal, and a permanent transfer must be completed in the coming days with time slowly running out for Arteta to find a suitor.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
