Everton should offer Arsenal outcast Ainsley Maitland-Niles a move away from London.
Mikel Arteta has injected a sense of optimism in Arsenal since he took over at the Emirates and positive results have followed. The current state of the club is much better than what it was when Unai Emery left. While youngsters like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Joespeh Willock have excelled enormously, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is having a season to forget.
Originally a right midfielder was assigned the task of a makeshift right back when Hector Bellerin was out with a cruciate ligament rupture. Since then, Maitland-Niles has represented the Gunners in the right back position more than he has in the right wide midfield role. However, the Englishman now feels unsure about his chances at Emirates and fears Mikel Arteta won’t include him in his plans.
According to the Athletic, Ainsley Maitland-Niles has concluded that he doesn’t have a future with Arsenal and in order to seek regular first team football, a separation with his boyhood club is a must. Respecting his wishes, Arsenal may allow him to leave this summer and Everton must be in front of the queue for the 22 year old.
While Everton’s central defence has been an area of concern with only three first team centre backs, Carlo Ancelotti is relieved with what Lucas Digne and Seamus Coleman have shown him as full backs on either flank. However, the club board is also aware that Coleman is reaching to the culminating stages of his career and a replacement will be needed sooner or later. Arsenal outcast Ainsley Maitland-Niles could be the answer.
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The 22 year old can essentially play as a right back in a back four, hence can be regarded as a Seamus Coleman successor. If Carlo Ancelotti decides to make tactical tweaks and employ a 3-5-2, Maitland-Niles is a trustable right wing back. He has also featured on wide right in midfield. The signing of the Englishman unlocks numerous options and ideas for Ancelotti to play with.
He should surely be the player Everton must consider buying this summer. His defensive game has improved tremendously over the last couple of seasons. He is a threat going forward and does decent job in defence, all in all a complete package Everton have been wanting.
Alex Iwobi hasn’t turned out the way Everton fans would have hoped but Ainsley Maitland-Niles is different. Perhaps, if the 22 year old does manage to come to Goodison, he could jump over Iwobi in the team.
Coming to the economic side of the transfer, the Arsenal man is contracted at Emirates till 2023 but his desire to leave North London could be the driving force in Arsenal sanctioning the transfer. He could be available in the region of £20 million and Marcel Brands won’t hesitate to pay a fee for someone who is reckoned as a rising star.
Should the Toffees sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles?