Sky Sports journalist: Everton want to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles on loan deal
Everton are in pursuit of Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles with a season-long loan deal being eyed, according to Ben Grounds.
The Sky Sports journalist made the claim via his personal Twitter profile on Friday night [27/08/21].
“Everton want to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles on a season-long loan deal from Arsenal,” Grounds wrote.
“The club are seeking cover at right-back, but it was clear from his cameo when already winning 6-0 this week [versus West Brom] how much the player sees himself as a central midfielder.”
The 23-year-old England international, capped five times by his country last year, spent the second half of last season on loan at West Brom, who were relegated from the Premier League.
Right profile
Maitland-Niles is a young, energetic and versatile Englishman – he ticks a lot of boxes that Marcel Brands and Rafa Benitez will be looking at.
He developed in the Arsenal academy as a midfielder, playing in the middle and out wide, and it was in the former that he was utilised at West Brom last season.
The player has been described as a “Rolls Royce” by ex-Everton defender Martin Keown [Football.London] and he impressed on loan at The Hawthorns, despite the Baggies’ relegation, but he appears surplus to requirements at Arsenal.
A loan move makes sense for Everton as it would mean not having to shell out on a transfer fee amid fears over FFP, but the suggestion that the Blues may use him as a backup to Coleman at right-back may disturb him somewhat as he seeks to establish himself as a midfielder.
In other Everton news, the Blues are confident of signing this record-breaking striker amid an approach to his Saudi-owned club.
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