Ainsley Maitland-Niles is reportedly on the verge of joining Premier League club Southampton on loan, which comes with a purchase option.
According to The Athletic, Southampton are closing in on signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles from fellow Premier League club Arsenal on a season-long loan deal. The Saints will have a purchase option in the contract, with the 25-year-old expected to extend his deal at the Emirates.
Arsenal need to buy a new midfielder and a winger before the summer transfer window shuts down, but Edu Gaspar has his sights set on some key departures. The Gunners must clear out some space and make room for possible new arrivals.
So far, Arsenal have done good business with outgoing players, although some remain at the club. Nicolas Pepe has joined OGC Nice on loan, while Edu is open to finding solutions for Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles.
Bellerin is now linked with Barcelona as Real Betis have bowed out of the chase. Meanwhile, Maitland-Niles has plenty of admirers from England and abroad, but the midfielder might want to stay in the Premier League. The 25-year-old has a contract until 2023, with Arsenal reportedly holding the option to extend it by a further year.
Excl: Southampton are closing in on Ainsley Maitland-Niles deal. It’s set to be completed on loan with buy option as Arsenal contract will be extended. ?⚪️? #SaintsFC
Talks ongoing on player side, then medical soon to get the deal done. pic.twitter.com/GxbAXKYwUy
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2022
His admirers include Newcastle United, West Ham United, and Nottingham Forest. However, in the last hours, Southampton have emerged as front runners for the Arsenal utility man’s signature, with the Saints on the verge of agreeing on a loan deal with Arsenal.
Southampton will likely take Maitland-Niles on a season-long loan, with an option to buy him permanently next summer. The 25-year-old could prove a good option and strengthen Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad.
Southampton could view Maitland-Niles as a replacement for Oriol Romeu, who might join Girona after agreeing to an offer from the Spanish side. The Arsenal utility man could see the move to St. Mary’s favourably, as there is a chance for him to play as a midfielder regularly than being pushed on as a full-back.
Arsenal are expected to extend Maitland-Niles’s contract to protect his value, although he does not have a long-term future at the club under Mikel Arteta. The Gunners are also in the market for a new midfielder after injuries to Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny.
Palmeiras’ Danilo remains linked, while new stories connect with a move for Aston Villa’s Douglas Luiz. For now, Maitland-Niles will likely leave Arsenal before the transfer deadline, and it looks likely that Southampton might be his next destination.
