Everton are in the hunt to sign Ainsley-Maitland-Niles
Everton are interested in signing Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles according to the Daily Mail.
The versatile midfielder, who can also play at right-back, has spent the second half of the season on loan at West Brom.
Wolves were close to signing the 23-year-old for £20million last summer [The Guardian] but there is now no mention of their interest.
Instead, Manchester United, Leeds and Southampton have been linked to Maitland-Niles, whose future at The Emirates is seemingly uncertain.
Tricky one
Maitland-Niles is a player who is still yet to deliver on his potential, but there are reasons to be positive if he joins Everton this summer.
His versatility could suit us very well and according to the Mail we view him as a right-back, which is a position in need of strengthening.
Martin Keown has described him as a “Rolls Royce” of a player in the past [Football.London], while Gareth Southgate also called him up to the England squad last year, so he clearly possesses quality.
But it is up to Carlo Ancelotti to get the best out of him, and that is where some questions emerge.
Firstly, if Everton are to challenge for the top four is signing a player unwanted by Arsenal really the solution?
Maitland-Niles has not pulled up any trees with West Brom either, albeit in a struggling side that has been relegated.
However, at 23 we expect he will improve, particularly under Ancelotti’s guidance, and if we can land him for a fee of £20million or under it could prove to be good business.
In other Everton news, Gary Lineker has shared a story about Peter Reid storming off after a ‘Heartbreaking’ moment at Everton.
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