Ainsley Maitland-Niles has signaled his intention to leave Arsenal at the end of the season amid growing interest from a number of clubs.
The 23-year-old was the subject of intense transfer speculation last summer, with Wolves submitting a £ 20m bid for the baby.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been loaned out to West Brom since January | Marc Atkins / Getty Images
However, a constellation on the slopes in the Community Shield victory over Premier League champions Liverpool in August convinced Mikel Arteta to stumble upon Wolves’ progress.
But after that, Maitland-Niles struggled to hold down a spot in Gunners start XI and was sent out on loan to struggling West Brom in January, after finishing 90 minutes of league football on just four occasions so far this season.
The England international has been a constant presence on Sam Allardyce’s side since securing a temporary move for the Baggies, and The Telegraph reports that he has now informed parent club Arsenal that he will be leaving in the summer.
Maitland-Niles made his senior debut for the Three Lions last year and has won five internationals for his country.
He was left out of Gareth Southgate’s team for the March matches and that may have driven his desire to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer in search of first team football at a high profile club.
Wolves are said to be keen to revive their interest in the Arsenal man this summer, while Leicester and Southampton are also monitoring his performances in the Hawthorns with a view to a possible summer move.
Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks set to leave Arsenal this summer | Sebastian Frej / MB Media / Getty Images
The report adds that Maitland-Niles believes that his primary position is in midfield, although he accepts that he may be forced to play at right-back if he wants to join the top side.
While his versatility will prove to be an attractive proposition for most clubs, there is also the added bonus that he would be a home grown player for all English sides competing in Europe.
The 23-year-old still has two years left on his deal at the Emirates, so Arsenal will probably not be forced to sell the kid for less than the £ 20 million they rejected from Wolves last summer.
