Ainsley Maitland-Niles is very close to becoming a free agent as his loan with Southampton, as well as his contract with parent club Arsenal, expire at the end of the season. Speaking to The Athletic, the 25-year-old has confirmed he has no intention of discussing a new deal with the Gunners, and that he would be willing to accept an offer to continue playing for Southampton full-time.
Maitland-Niles was never a regular starter under Mikel Arteta, though his versatility did come in handy on numerous occasions as various positions in the team needed filling. However, that’s not the situation the player wants for himself, and he’s been trying to kick on by making several temporary switches away from the Emirates over the last couple of seasons.
He played for West Bromwich Albion and AS Roma before moving to Southampton at the start of the season, and so far, he’s made a total of 22 appearances in all competitions for the Saints, recording one assist.
“It’s been great journey but it has come to an end now,” Maitland-Niles said of his time as an Arsenal player. “Southampton is a great club to be at — if they were to make an offer, I’ll be more than happy to stay.”
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