According to Sky Sports, Wolverhampton Wanderers are in advanced talks to sign Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles this summer.
The Englishman’s future has been up in the air for quite some time now, after reports emerged saying that he is no longer a part of Mikel Arteta’s plans for the new season.
The Sun claimed earlier this month that Arsenal had placed Maitland-Niles on the transfer list. The report revealed that the Gunners were seeking £30 million for him. But it now looks like they are letting him go for a lot less.
Sky Sports claim that Wolves are close to sealing a deal for the versatile Arsenal star for a fee in the region of £20 million. The Englishman will be handed a four-year deal and he is expected to fill in for the injured Jonny Otto.
Why are Arsenal selling Maitland-Niles?
It will be interesting to see how Mikel Arteta addresses this sale if it goes through. Maitland-Niles is an Arsenal academy graduate who is capable of playing in a number of positions.
The 22-year-old has featured on both wings, both full-back positions and in central midfield. His performance in the FA Cup semi-final was arguably one of his best in an Arsenal shirt which makes his potential sale a strange decision.
However, Arsenal’s finances have been hit hard and Maitland-Niles’ sale might just be their way of raising funds to bring in Arteta’s other targets before the season starts in about three weeks time.
Still only 22, Maitland-Niles has the potential to be a quality player for Wolves and England in the future. His versatility will get him plenty of chances and who better than Nuno Espirito Santo to help develop him into a fine footballer?
Arsenal, on the other hand, might live to regret their decision. Maitland-Niles, if he puts his head down and works hard, he has the quality to become one of the best players in the Premier League, and he could well come back to haunt Arteta and the Gunners in the very near future.
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