Report: Premier League manager has reservations about signing ‘fantastic’ Arsenal player this summer

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Nottingham Forest manager Steve Cooper has reservations about signing Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Arsenal this summer.

The Athletic report that Maitland-Niles has been a target for Forest this summer and discussions over signing him have taken place.

The report also says that the England international was deemed not to be a priority and other targets are higher than him in the pecking order.

It seems he was part of a wider shortlist of targets in the wing-back position, but Cooper wants Forest to go in another direction.

Forest moving on from Maitland-Niles

It has already been reported that Maitland-Niles’ wages would also pose a problem for Forest if they were to try to sign him.

That all adds up to create the impression a move to the City Ground this summer is a long way from being done.

Maitland-Niles spent the second half of last season on loan at Roma, under former Tottenham and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho.

Maitland-Niles has been described as ‘fantastic‘ by former Gunners defender Martin Keown, but lost his way at Arsenal under Mikel Arteta.

Despite his versatility being potentially useful, Arteta seems happy enough for the Englishman to depart this summer if the right offer comes in.

Maitland-Niles played for England as recently as November 2020, but seems to have little to no chance of making the 2022 World Cup squad as it stands.