Arsenal Transfer News: Ainsley Maitland-Niles Wanted by Premier League Trio

Arsenal are contemplating allowing Ainsley Maitland-Niles to leave on loan this January transfer window with West Brom pushing to sign the versatile defender.

Heading into the final furlong, Arsenal’s transfer business got off to a flying start and has maintained its pace throughout the month. With just hours left before the winter window slams shut there is still time for a grandstand finish.

Did anyone expect that to involve Ainsley Maitland-Niles?

Arsenal could offload Shkodran Mustafi before the February 1st. His name being linked with a Liverpool side who’re facing their own defensive crisis is an intriguing one, albeit a pipe dream.

West Brom are pushing to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Arsenal on loan this January

The German isn’t the only one who has found playing time hard to come by, as Hale End graduate Maitland-Niles is struggling for minutes in a newly functioning side. Having opted against selling him during the summer transfer window, the prospect of loaning him but six months later is difficult to comprehend.

Yet West Brom are ‘pushing hard’ to solve their relegation woes by attempting to bring him in until the end of the season, report The Athletic.

Sam Allardyce has an almighty task on his hands to rectify the Baggies’ slump, one he arguably is making worse for himself. As a means to give his side impetus for the coming months, he wants to bring in a midfielder and full-back, hence why Mr. Versatile’s name has cropped up.

It’s added that Arsenal have reservations about sending the 23-year-old out on loan to a side fighting for their lives and who play with a style entirely different to the system implemented by Mikel Arteta.

Having made his senior England bow earlier in the campaign, and with Euro 2020(1) to come in the summer, Maitland-Niles has concerns over his involvement under Gareth Southgate who has stated on previous occasions his insistence to choose players who are regular features for their club sides. Maitland-Niles has started just five Premier League matches all season.

West Brom are in the running, but so too are another two Premier league outfits.

Top Four Side Chasing Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Arteta’s side are not overly keen on Maitland-Niles making the move to the Hawthorns. Rightly so. All the concerns they have are justified.

Where he is in his career, ignoring the style of Allardyce’s team, which is also a factor, it’s a damaging move mentally for the player having reached the highs of earning his first senior England cap as recently as September.

Stuck in a rut and in woeful shape, going from a revitalised Arsenal to a relegation-doomed club under new management will do more harm than good. It’s not an ideal situation to be thrust into for any player, let alone one who was convinced to stay in north London and shun outside interest.

Of course, he needs minutes and those haven’t been forthcoming under Arteta this season. Much of that rests on his shoulders as the opportunities he’s been granted haven’t been grasped appropriately. A certain degree of slack is cut given the variety of positions he’s played in: this season alone he’s played on either wing, in both full-back slots and in central midfield.

There could be another option for him this month, as a ‘current top four’ side have registered interest of their own, which Arsenal are said to be more keen on.

No word of who that is, the current top four are Manchester City, Manchester United, Leicester and Liverpool. Of the quartet, the Foxes appear the likeliest option. Wilfred Ndidi suffered a minor hamstring problem in central midfield, while both their full-backs have been near ever presents this season.

None of the four sides would offer regular playing time, so there could be a possibility the club in question is West Ham, who but recently occupied a place in the top four.

It’s tricky. How ambitious are Arsenal this season? What do they realistically believe they can achieve? Say it is West Ham, then you’re directly aiding a side who are rivals for a European berth. The Hammers have been so impressive this season that it would be foolishly premature to rule them out of the running.

If it was Manchester City, then why not? The league title isn’t up for grabs. Even more recently, it has emerged that Southampton have inquired about his availability – Bertrand not involved in the discussions – but that coughs up similar issues as with a top four side.

With the window coming to an end 11PM on Monday, there are discussions aplenty to be had.