Arsenal player Ainsley Maitland-Niles has to choose between West Brom and Southampton, but it is looking more likely he will choose the latter.
No regular first-team minutes have Ainsley Maitland-Niles looking for transfer out of the Emirates. He has made 11 Premier League appearances this season, starting as little as five of the 11 he has played.
Now it looks as if he will get his wish to move out of the Emirates and gain some valuable minutes before the season ends. West Brom was the team mostly linked with a Maitland-Niles switch but after the Saints stepped in, the tide has turned in their favour.
"Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks set to choose between West Brom and Southampton as he closes in on a temporary loan switch away from Arsenal this month.The 23-year-old, who said his goodbyes to team-mates at the London Colney training ground on Friday, is keen to secure more game-time after making just five Premier League starts for Mikel Arteta’s side this season."
More from Premier League
- Barcelona identify Newcastle star as Robert Lewandowski replacement
- Arsenal injury news: Mikel Arteta confirms “rapid” attacker suffered injury
- “600 days” Fans make SHOCK Chelsea revelation – They really are poor
- Arsenal transfer news: Mikel Arteta rivals Manchester United for wonderkid
- Manchester United: Erik ten Hag pinpoints 4 players amid Brighton loss
Maitland-Niles has been on the move since last summer
The versatile 23-year-old was set to move in the summer already with Wolves the team massively in for him.
He was a medical and announcement away but a move never materialised. The other side who were fighting hard for his signature was La Liga leaders, Athletico Madrid.
Mikel Arteta felt he was too important to the club and was needed in North London at the time.
That has all changed now with the Gunners ready to accept loan offers for the player so he can see out the rest of the season.
🗣"Southampton is the preferred destination" @skysports_sheth runs through the loan battle between Southampton & West Brom for Arsenal's Ainsley Maitland-Niles pic.twitter.com/n5nVgSa2lS
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) January 29, 2021
Arteta and the board have made it known they prefer him not move to the Baggie and join the Sam Allardyce quest – a relegation battle and massive fight to stay afloat in the Premier Leauge.
However, it must be said, West Brom is the club he will get the most minutes on the pitch and where he should be walking straight into the starting 11 – in any of his favoured positions.
"Part of Maitland-Niles’ motivation to get more playing time is to help boost his case for inclusion in Gareth Southgate’s England squad for the rearranged Euros in the summer. (Via: dailymail.co.uk)"
At St. Mary’s he could sit with the same problem where he comes in second best in his preferred positions. The Saints have had a great season thus far and no player appears to be a major weak link.
The objective for the Englishman is to make a case for a Three Lions spot for this year’s EUROS and operate in his best position in the centre of the park. It would be pointless to go abroad and sit on the bench elsewhere.