Report claims Arsenal want £20 million for Ainsley Maitland-Niles

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Arsenal are hoping to raise £20 million for the sale of Ainsley Maitland-Niles this summer, and will use the money to strengthen in attack.

That is according to a report from The Sun, who suggest the versatile Arsenal youth-team product is available this summer.

The report suggests that Arsenal will use the £20 million to either fund a new contract for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang or sign Celtic frontman Odsonne Edouard, who is valued at £30 million. 

But the report even admits that the £20 million valuation on Maitland-Niles is ‘staggering’ and given the current financial crisis, Arsenal will be fortunate to receive such a generous fee. 

It has previously been suggested that Maitland-Niles has fallen out with Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta. The Daily Star suggested in May that the 22-year-old had fallen out with the Spaniard. 

Speaking to the press in March, as relayed by the official Arsenal website, Arteta insisted the versatile star needed to ‘put his head down’ and fight for his place in the Arsenal team. 

 “Ainsley needs to put his head down and work hard and show me every day in training that he wants it more than anyone else, he wants to play for this club and fight for his place.”

So it certainly seems as though Arsenal are ready to let the England under-21 international depart this summer. 

But they will undoubtedly be lucky to find anyone willing to spend £20 million on for the pleasure.