In a recent report, The Telegraph has claimed that Wolverhampton Wanderers are in the running for Arsenal speedster Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who is currently playing on loan at West Bromwich Albion. However, the West Midlands side are expected to face stiff competition from Southampton and Leicester City among other top English clubs in pursuit of the English talent (via The Telegraph).
Maitland-Niles’ Up and Down Season In The Premier League
Maitland-Niles struggled to earn regular game time with the Gunners in the first half of this campaign, so Mikel Arteta decided to ship him out to the Hawthorns on loan during the January transfer window. The 23-year-old has participated in seven matches for West Brom so far but is still waiting to score or assist his first goal for them.
The London-born player has caught the eye during his time with the Baggies as he is averaging 1.7 tackles, 0.7 interceptions, 1.4 clearances, 0.6 shots and 1.6 dribbles per game in the English top-flight. He has even distributed the ball relatively well after completing 79.4% of his attempted passes in league football (stats via whoscored).
Maitland-Niles is still under contract at the Emirates Stadium until the summer of 2023, so it would be difficult for Wolves to convince Arsenal into selling their prized asset in the upcoming summer transfer window.
What Will The England International Add To Nuno Espirito Santo’s Team?
Maitland-Niles is a highly versatile player as he can operate in multiple positions across the field. He has often been deployed as a midfielder this season but can also fill in as a right-winger or a right-back if needed.
The five-time England international is a quick and agile presence at the centre of the park and can make some driving runs with the ball in the opposition half. He can even disrupt the opponent’s flow in the game by getting stuck in with a few tackles. Plus, Maitland-Niles can work hard to clear the danger when needed that has made him such a valuable member of the West Brom first-team recently.
At 23, the English sensation will only get better in the coming seasons, so he could prove to be a major coup for Wolves if they manage to recruit him in this off-season. Maitland-Niles will add some much-needed cover for a number of positions in Nuno Espirito Santo startling XI due to his incredible versatility on the pitch. All in all, the Midlands side should try everything they can to win the race for Maitland-Niles’ services this summer as he could enhance their squad depth considerably ahead of the new season.
