---
title: "Southampton: Saints want Ainsley Maitland-Niles"
canonical: "https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-saints-west-brom-mikel-arteta-ralph-hasenhuttl-ainsley-maitland-niles/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "jonathan radcliffe"
section: "Premier League"
published: "2021-01-30T12:30:39Z"
modified: "2021-01-30T12:30:39Z"
---

# Southampton: Saints want Ainsley Maitland-Niles

**[According to The Athletic](https://theathletic.com/2284088/2021/01/29/transfer-news-live-rumours-football/), Southampton are now leading the race for Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles.**

### **Saints eye Maitland-Niles**

Maitland-Niles have played just 11 times for Arsenal in the Premier League so far this campaign, with only five of them being starts ([Transfermarkt](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ainsley-maitland-niles/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/285845)). As such, he is set to be loaned out until the end of the campaign.

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West Bromwich Albion are also interested in the 23-year-old, but Mikel Arteta is said to be eager to see him move to St. Mary’s Stadium rather than the Hawthorns, thus putting Ralph Hasenhuttl’s side in the driver’s seat.

### **Fantastic for squad depth**

It is surprising that Maitland-Niles has been so underused so far this campaign, especially considering the Gunners rejected a £15m bid from Wolves for him last summer ([Sky Sports](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11699/12057111/ainsley-maitland-niles-wolves-opening-15m-bid-rejected-by-arsenal)). [Previously compared to Gareth Bale](https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/weekend-talking-points-it-s-mad-that-city-pair-are-up-for-young-award-rqvkbdkwd?region=global&--xx-meta=denied_for_visit%3D0%26visit_number%3D0%26visit_remaining%3D0%26visit_used%3D0&--xx-mvt-opted-out=false&--xx-uuid=cef65f98a06cdf879fa548eac89c9e84&ni-statuscode=acsaz-307) by Tony Cascarino in 2019, he has made [121](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/ainsley-maitland-niles/leistungsdatendetails/spieler/285845) appearances for the Gunners during his career to date.

He is a versatile player who can play both in central midfield and at right-back, and that could be put to good use by Ralph Hasenhuttl. The Austrian boss could do with some cover in central midfield for James Ward-Prowse, while Maitland-Niles could also provide an alternative to Kyle Walker-Peters, who is currently out injured ([The Daily Echo](https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/19036922.walker-peters-latest-join-saints-lengthy-injury-list/)).

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As we approach the business end of the season, this could be a fantastic signing for Saints. It remains to be seen whether they can get anything done before the transfer window closes.

***In other news, [this Premier League man snubbed a move to Southampton.](https://www.footballtransfertavern.com/southampton-fc-transfer-rumours/southampton-saints-demarai-gray-st-marys-stadium-ralph-hasenhuttl-leicester-city-brendan-rodgers/)***