Manchester United have reportedly denied speculation linking them with a potential move for Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
According to the report from Manchester Evening News, Manchester United are not interested in Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The Red Devils have distanced themselves from the Arsenal star, denying speculation that linked them with a potential move for the seemingly outbound Gunners academy graduate.
Ainslay Maitland-Niles is one of several Arsenal stars who were reportedly made available by the club hierarchy in order to drive up funds for Mikel Arteta to reinvest into the squad. The youngster was linked with Tottenham above all clubs as Jose Mourinho searched for reinforcements.
However, those links have cooled down, with a random Manchester United rumour surfacing of late. Granted, Manchester United are in need of a right sided winger and Maitland-Niles is a natural player for the right side. To add to it, the Arsenal star will come for cheap compared to the mega-millions that Dortmund are asking for Jadon Sancho.
Maitland-Niles has had quite a rise at Arsenal, with Hector Bellerin’s injury issues opening up a space for him in the starting eleven; a chance he grabbed with both feet. The 23-year-old has gone on to make 105 appearances for the senior side already and is regarded as a great talent within the club.
However, Arsenal’s inability to qualify for the Champions League meant that they received a slashed transfer budget, most of which were spent on Lille star Gabriel Magalhaes. This meant the Gunners would have to add to the funds by selling players and to the surprise of many, Ainsley Maitland-Niles was reportedly among those who were on the chopping block.
Maitland-Niles was close to sealing a £20 million transfer to Wolves while also being linked to Brighton at one point, but the deals somehow petered off. Now, it seems Manchester United were interested, but the Red Devils have also moved themselves away from these rumours.
The 23-year-old star does seem to be in Arteta’s plans, with the right-back featuring in Arsenal’s penalty shootout win over Liverpool in the Carabao Cup on Thursday. Arsenal would still try to add some players to the squad but Maitland-Niles doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon, especially if he keeps delivering like he has thus far.