Report: Southampton are now showing more interest than West Ham United in signing ‘tremendous’ PL player

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Southampton are now showing more interest than West Ham United in signing Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

The Evening Standard report that the England international has been offered to a host of Premier League clubs this summer.

West Ham have been linked with a swoop for the versatile academy graduate, but it seems two other clubs are more keen as it stands.

South coast rivals Bournemouth and Southampton are the most interested in signing Maitland-Niles before the deadline.

Southampton keener than West Ham on Maitland-Niles

Maitland-Niles has been hailed by former Tottenham striker Peter Crouch, who said in 2020: “I thought Maitland-Niles was fantastic in that midfield role, I really like him in there.

“I think he’s tremendous, I really like him. He’s got energy and he’s calm on the ball. He was full of confidence.”

Gunners legend Martin Keown added: “You rarely get a player with his pace in that role. I would have loved that as a player. He’s a Rolls-Royce of a player at times.

“There’s quality there, he’s growing and getting better every time I see him. I think he’s ready for that central position.”

Those qualities got him into the England squad but with months until the World Cup party is named, Maitland-Niles is miles away from the picture.

He needs to go somewhere he can play regular football and a switch to Roma for the second half of last season did not work out as planned.

A move to the south coast could beckon but West Ham will be able to offer European football if they get through tonight’s second leg and his versatility could appeal to David Moyes.