Everton are reportedly interested in signing Arsenal full-back Ainsley Maitland-Niles on a season-long loan deal with the option to buy him permanently.
The Toffees have been restricted to free transfers so far this summer, as Demarai Gray is the only player they have spent a transfer fee on. He joined from Bayer Leverkusen for £1.8 million.
Rafa Benitez’s side have gotten off to a good start in the Premier League, and an addition or two more players will make their squad stronger. Having struggled to offload players this summer, a loan move for Maitland-Niles is something they will be able to afford.
As per The Athletic, Maitland-Niles is keen on moving away from the Emirates, and even wrote on Instagram that he wants to play regularly.
“All I wanna do is go where I’m wanted and where I’m gonna play,” Ainsley Maitland-Niles wrote on his Instagram status.
It remains to be seen if Arsenal will entertain the idea of letting him leave, as they don’t have good options at right-back despite having the depth.
Understand Maitland-Niles has stated from start of this season he’d like to play solely as a full-back (the position in which he was selected for England last year) and has never during current campaign asked to operate in midfield @TheAthleticUK #AFC #EFC https://t.co/Ayw5mmbm7k
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) August 30, 2021
Ainsley Maitland-Niles would be a solid versatile addition to Everton
Seamus Coleman is Benitez’s preferred option at right-back and the skipper tends to put in consistent performances for the Toffees.
However, they need good backup in that position, as Jonjoe Kenny has failed to impress on a consistent basis.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles must be wondering what he must do to get into the Arsenal lineup as the likes of Cedric Soares and Hector Bellerin have failed to deliver.
Everton would be a good club for Maitland-Niles to progress further in his career as the Toffees are achieve a high finish this season under Benitez.
His versatility will hold him in good stead at Goodison Park. He is a solid player who can pass the ball well, has a good burst of pace, and has the physical attributes to play in midfield and at right-back.
The 24-year is good at holding on to the ball, and his ability to read and intercept passes is pretty underrated.
He has all the attributes to thrive under a manager like Benitez, so a move to Everton would be a good move for both parties, especially if there is a clause to sign him permanently next year.
Maitland-Niles spent the second half of last season on loan at West Brom, and perhaps needs to move away from Arsenal, who are in turmoil, to develop further in his career.