Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Miles is ‘up’ for a move to Southampton, according to transfer insider Dean Jones.
The lowdown: Wanted man
Maitland-Niles has attracted an abundance of interest as the transfer window heads towards its conclusion.
Following a loan spell at AS Roma last term, where he became a European trophy winner under Jose Mourinho, the 24-year-old England international has returned to Arsenal where he appears to be surplus to requirements.
As such, Bournemouth, West Ham and Nottingham Forest have all come forward as potential suitors for Maitland-Niles, although one well-informed insider believes Southampton could be the eventual landing spot…
The latest: ‘He’s up for the move’
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Jones – a journalist for Eurosport – has claimed that the five-cap ace would be keen on making the switch to St Mary’s.
He said: “Southampton are the most likely to get him at the moment, but there are as many as five clubs in the background waiting to see what happens with that.
“If that move doesn’t happen for any reason, then there will be a real battle to sign him before deadline day, but Saints does seem a good fit for him, and I think he’s up for the move if it can all come together.”
The verdict: Fingers crossed
Capable of operating across any midfield role and in both full-back areas, adding the versatile Maitland-Niles to Ralph Hasenhuttl’s squad truly would be an inspired piece of business prior to the September 1 deadline.
Despite never truly settling into a first-team anywhere, the Englishman has amassed 191 senior outings in his career to date, more than enough experience to call upon to slot straight into the Saints XI.
Holding a market value of £9million and in the final 12 months of a deal in London (Transfermarkt), this should be a wholly affordable venture for the Southampton hierarchy and a deal Hasenhuttl must be pushing to get over the line.
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