Report: 'Fantastic' 24-year-old is now likely to leave Arsenal

By Sam Preston

England international Ainsley Maitland-Niles is now likely to leave Arsenal before the end of the transfer window.

Maitland-Niles was linked with newly-promoted Nottingham Forest earlier on in the summer but that move failed to materialise.

Forest have since signed Neco Williams from Liverpool to play at right wing-back, so that avenue for an exit looks closed off now.

Nevertheless, Football.London claim that Maitland-Niles is set to depart north London before the deadline rolls around.

Maitland-Niles likely to leave Arsenal

Maitland-Niles ended up joining Roma on loan in January as he looked to become the latest English player to enjoy success in Italy.

Unfortunately, his time in the capital did not go to plan. He played eight times in Serie A for Jose Mourinho’s men. But he has been an unused substitute in 10 of their last 12 league games.

He turns 25 in August, and he will be wary of watching his development stagnate, because he does have potential and Martin Keown has previously labelled him a ‘fantastic‘ player.

Maitland-Niles has been around the England squad reckoning under Gareth Southgate, but as it stands, he has absolutely no chance of going to the World Cup.

It would take a huge turnaround, but there could be a potential opening on the left of the defence, where England lack cover for Ben Chilwell and Luke Shaw.

Southgate has used a variety of awkward fits in that role, and the immediate priority for Maitland-Niles, 24, has to be going somewhere he will play regularly.