---
title: "Exclusive: Steve Bull claims Wolves don’t need Ainsley Maitland-Niles"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/exclusive-bull-maitland-niles-transfer-rumours-wolves-e74/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Aaron Hindhaugh"
section: "Exclusive"
published: "2021-04-10T11:16:45Z"
modified: "2021-04-10T11:16:45Z"
---

# Exclusive: Steve Bull claims Wolves don’t need Ainsley Maitland-Niles

**In an exclusive interview with [The Transfer Tavern](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/), Steve Bull, who made [561 appearances](https://www.wolves.co.uk/club/history/hall-of-fame/steve-bull/) for Wolves during his career, has claimed that Ainsley Maitland-Niles is not a player his former club will be looking to sign.**

Wolves were in pole position to sign Maitland-Niles for [£20 million](https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/aug/24/arsenal-ainsley-maitland-niles-wolves-20m) last summer, however the 23-year old didn’t end up joining Nuno Espirito Santo’s side as he wanted to try and [force](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/ainsley-maitland-niles-wolves-transfer-19145347) his way into Arsenal side.

He went on to join West Bromwich Albion on loan in January but it has been [reported](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-9429101/Ainsley-Maitland-Niles-preparing-leave-Arsenal-Wolves-Leicester-Southampton-interested.html) that Wolves may seek to reignite their interest at the end of the season, and that Nuno is an admirer of his versatility.

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After Wolves missed out on Mainland-Niles, who was [described](https://www.football.london/arsenal-fc/news/arsenal-tottenham-maitland-niles-keown-19398608) as a “Rolls-Royce” player by Martin Keown in December, they opted to sign 32-year old Marcal from Lyon but he has been one of the many players to suffer an injury-plagued season at Molineux.

Speaking on why Wolves don’t need to sign Maitland-Niles this summer and how Marcal is a good enough wing-back for Wolves, Bull told **The Transfer Tavern**:

*“Last summer I think Wolves fancied him and thought he could do a job, but they went for Macal over Maitland-Niles in the end and I think he’ll slot straight back in when he’s fit.*

*“So, Maitland-Niles is not for me, I think he’ll go back to Arsenal and try to get in their side.”*

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Maitland-Niles spent the first half of the season as a fringe player under Mikel Arteta before joining Sam Allardyce at West Brom to try and help them fight off relegation.

Fosun International are [reportedly](https://theathletic.co.uk/1333373/2019/10/30/what-fosun-spending-less-really-means-for-wolves/) looking to take a step back in terms of their spending on transfer fees from this summer.