Report: Everton now want £52,000-a-week Newcastle target, he’s keen to leave

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According to Sky Sports, Everton are keen to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Arsenal before Tuesday’s transfer deadline.

What’s the story?

Well, Sky Sports believe Rafa Benitez wants to sign the 23-year-old on loan ahead of Tuesday.

The 5-cap England international is also a target for Newcastle, according to the Daily Mail.

Arsenal are open to letting Maitland-Niles leave the Emirates Stadium, and The Athletic believe he’s keen to leave the Gunners too.

Sky Sports add that Arsenal and Everton have a good relationship, having shook hands on deals for Theo Walcott and Alex Iwobi in recent times.

By the sounds of it, the Toffees have a good chance of making this deal happen.

Everton or Newcastle risk angering Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Interestingly, Sky Sports claim that Everton want Maitland-Niles – who earns £52,000-a-week – to fill their gap at right-back.

Newcastle aren’t exactly strong in that department either, so it’s safe to assume Steve Bruce would use him there too if he managed to sign him.

However, if the Toffees or the Magpies play Maitland-Niles at right-back, they risk leaving him unhappy.

Why? Well, the Hale End Academy graduate has made it very clear that he sees himself as a midfielder, and simply doesn’t want to play at right-back.

As The Athletic explain, Arsenal don’t exactly agree.

Sam Allardyce, who took Maitland-Niles on loan at West Brom last season, effectively told him to stop being stubborn and play wherever the manager wants.

He said: “If I were him, I’d play wherever the manager picked me — and I’d never turn it down because if you can play in a number of positions, then you are going to get more games than if you had one position and one position only.”

So, whoever signs Maitland-Niles before Tuesday’s deadline must keep this in mind during negotiations, or a deal may simply not happen.