As the transfer window draws to a close, there is still expected to be a fair amount of business at the Emirates. There may be incomings and there could still be outgoings, with Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to go out on loan once again. As per The Athletic, the versatile Arsenal man is Southampton bound.
Versatile Arsenal Man Is on the Move
🚨#SaintsFC have agreed a deal to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles on a season-long from Arsenal with an option to buy.
Southampton have been long-term admirers & is able to play in both FB positions.
Story @TheAthleticUK – first reported by @FabrizioRomanohttps://t.co/IEzwcAQZsc
— Jacob Tanswell (@J_Tanswell) August 31, 2022
Details of the Deal
Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ Arsenal career has never fully kickstarted. He has failed to become a regular starter and most recently, it has led to loan moves. Last season, the Londoner spent his time over in Italy with AS Roma. Jose Mourinho has brought a few Premier League names over to the Eternal City and the versatile Arsenal man was one of them.
Roma didn’t make that move permanent and so now Maitland-Niles has returned to North London. He will remain on English shores this time around as Ralph Hasenhuttl and Southampton come calling. Whilst it will initially be a loan, “It is understood that Southampton will also have the option to buy Maitland-Niles at the end of the 2022/23 season.”
It is thought that this won’t be the final deal done by the Saints either. “Southampton look set to be busy before deadline day, with the club confident of securing deals for Manchester City duo Samuel Edozie and Juan Larios.” There is a relationship building between the two clubs following the arrivals of Romeo Lavia and Gavin Bazunu at St Marys from the blue half of Manchester.
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Excl: Southampton are closing in on Ainsley Maitland-Niles deal. It’s set to be completed on loan with buy option as Arsenal contract will be extended. 🚨⚪️🔴 #SaintsFC
Talks ongoing on player side, then medical soon to get the deal done. pic.twitter.com/GxbAXKYwUy
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 31, 2022
About the Versatile Arsenal Man
Dubbing Maitland-Niles as a versatile Arsenal man comes from him having played in various positions. He first broke through for the Gunners as a midfielder but has since been tried out elsewhere on the field. Wingback on either the left or the right side has beckoned. “Hasenhuttl wanted a versatile full-back that would be able to play on the left and the right-hand side of the defence.”
He has previously spoken about his displeasure of not being played in his preferred position but that may well be something that isn’t changing anytime soon. With the likes of James Ward-Prowse and Joe Aribo in the middle of the field, Southampton are hardly indeed of reinforcements in the middle of the park.
