Versatile Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles is inching ever closer to a move to Serie A, with Jose Mourinho’s AS Roma.
Gunners struggles
The campaign, to date, has of course proven an altogether underwhelming one for Maitland-Niles.
Whilst Arsenal have begun to find their feet amid a concerted push for a top-4 spot in the Premier League, the 24-year-old has been afforded only a bit-part role under the watch of Mikel Arteta.
With Thomas Partey and Granit Xhaka having established themselves as the clear-cut first-choice pairing in the middle of the park, and summer addition Takehiro Tomiyasu continuing to excel at right-back, Maitland-Niles has managed a paltry pair of league starts in 2021/22.
In turn, it has not come as a huge surprise to see rumours begin to mount of late that the Gunners youth product, upon the opening of the January transfer window, could well be afforded an Emirates exit.
Roma bound
And, as alluded to above, if the latest word stemming from the media on Sunday evening is anything to go by, then such a transfer could well come to fruition any day now.
This comes with Maitland-Niles understood to be inching towards a move to Italy, with AS Roma.
As per transfer expert Fabrizio Romano, the Giallorossi are in ‘advanced talks’ with Arsenal, to bring in AMN on loan with the option to buy next month:
AS Roma are in advanced talks to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles on loan with buy option from Arsenal, as confirmed by @DiMarzio. ?? #ASRoma #AFC
Negotiations ongoing – talks opened few days ago as reported on last @podcastherewego episode on Thursday. ??
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) December 26, 2021
If, in the end, he does indeed opt to depart north London for Rome in January, Maitland-Niles will, of course, be reunited with several fellow countrymen.
This comes with both Chris Smalling and Tammy Abraham currently plying their trade with Jose Mourinho’s side.
Portuguese AS Roma’s coach Jose Mourinho reacts during a friendly football match between AS Roma and Debrecen VSC at the Benito Stirpe Stadium in Frosinone, near Rome, on July 25, 2021. (Photo by Filippo MONTEFORTE / AFP) (Photo by FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images)
Elsewhere, when it comes to the potential impact at Arsenal, could the 24-year-old’s departure hint at imminent reinforcements in the middle of the park?
Upon both Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny jetting off for the AFCON, Mikel Arteta’s squad will be left woefully short on midfield options, with just Granit Xhaka and Sambi Lokonga as recognised senior performers.
One such candidate to reinforce the Gunners’ ranks could come in the form of Renato Sanches, amid mounting links between the Portuguese and the capital giants of late.
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