Arsenal make final Maitland-Niles transfer decision

The transfer window is well and truly underway this January with rumours swirling around about potential incoming and departures for Arsenal.

Speculation is as rife as ever with plenty of the talk centering around who the Gunners might sign to replace the departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. If indeed he is even to leave, that is.

According to the reports, Arsenal are both closing in on a deal to sign Alexander Isak just as they have submitted a £58m bid for Dusan Vlahovic. Go figure.

However, there is no uncertainty over the situation with Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Arsenal make final Ainsley Maitland-Niles transfer decision as Roma submit offer of loan with buy option in January window

It’s a situation that has progressed quickly from the first known efforts of AS Roma to sign him this window, with developments coming through on a daily basis since as the Italian side pushed through on a deal to take him on an initial loan move.

Wanting a deal sorted out quickly for obvious reasons, their offer also includes an option to buy at the end of the season worth around £10m. The key part of negotiations has centred around the the final fee, with Arsenal said to want around £15m and obviously preferring that Roma include an obligation to purchase instead of an option.

However, as per Sami Mokbel, Maitland-Niles has been cleared to move to the Serie A side this summer. Mikel Arteta’s side will sanction the move.

While this has been reported previously, this is as conclusive as we’ve been told. What it doesn’t do, however, is confirm the deal despite it looking fairly conclusive. Arsenal will respond within 24 hours, but it’s still not known whether they will negotiate a higher price or push for an obligation.

Nevertheless, despite there being no final agreement, Arsenal are happy to let him and and talks are moving in the right direction.

Given the club’s decision to allow Maitland-Niles to leave, it reaffirms the point that another midfielder has to be sought this window to account for his departure. Only Granit Xhaka and Sambi Lokonga remain as senior options while Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are at AFCON, and the Belgian has played only nine minutes of football in the past seven Premier League outings.

We’re either looking at some seriously sudden promotion from the academy – which looks inevitable anyway with the fixtures coming – or a new signing on the horizon. It may well be both.