Everton make second Ainsley Maitland-Niles bid
Everton have made a second offer to Arsenal for 24-year-old Ainsley Maitland-Niles, according to El Bobble on Twitter.
The reliable Everton insider, followed on Twitter by The Times journalist Paul Joyce, who retweeted a transfer story of his last week, made the claim on Tuesday afternoon [15:30, 31/08/21].
He wrote: “Everton still remain in talks with Arsenal for Ainsley Maitland-Niles. The club are still hopeful something can be done and have made an improved second offer.”
Hope
Well, it sounds like Everton are still holding hope over a deal for the versatile England international who has been capped five times by his country.
Maitland-Niles rose through the ranks in north London as a midfielder but he has played as a full-back or wing-back on numerous occasions over the last few years.
It appears that would be where the Blues see him at Goodison Park, someone that can challenge Seamus Coleman at right-back while also offering competition in midfield and out wide.
From Everton’s perspective, it makes a lot of sense. They would be bringing in a young and hungry international player who would also tick a homegrown box on the Premier League squad list, and he would have a high resale value should they ever decide to cash in on him in the future.
He seems keen to join the Blues after taking to Instagram on Monday to demand an Arsenal exit.
It remains to be seen what sort of deal he would arrive on if Arsenal do let him leave, with Everton’s first offer reported to be an initial loan move with a view to a permanent deal.
In other Everton news, Blues respond as club makes late approach to sign this Goodison ace amid ‘Domino effect’ fears.
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