According to a recent report by Todofichajes.com, Everton are among several Premier League clubs hoping to land Ainsley Maitland-Niles from Arsenal during the summer transfer window. The same source has also stated that the Toffees will face competition from Manchester City and Newcastle United in pursuit of the English wide player this summer. It is believed that other clubs from France, Germany and Italy will also be interested in acquiring the Gunners youngster’s services, but their identities are yet to be revealed (via Todofichajes.com).
Maitland-Niles’s Rise To Prominence At The English Capital
The 22-year-old has experienced another solid season at North London after putting in a series of impressive displays on the right side of Arsenal’s first-team. He has been involved in 24 matches for Mikel Arteta’s team this term, registering one goal and two assists in all competitions.
More importantly, the English makeshift full-back has averaged 2.0 tackles, 1.5 interceptions, 1.6 clearances, 0.5 key passes and 1.0 dribbles per game in the Premier League and the UEFA Europa League this season (stats via whoscored). His stats showcase his growing influence at both ends of the field. Maitland-Niles has gradually established himself as a valuable member of Arteta’s squad due to his incredible versatility to operate in both full-back positions or play as an advanced winger down the right flank.
The London-born talent has also represented England at various youth levels but is still waiting to secure his first senior call-up from Gareth Southgate. Maybe a summer switch to Goodison Park could offer him regular first-team opportunities which might help him hone his skills and earn a place in the Three Lions squad for next year’s UEFA European Championship finals following the competition’s postponement because of the recent COVID-19 pandemic.
What Are The English Youngster’s Best Attributes?
Maitland-Niles can use his quickness and agility to make some lung-bursting runs with the ball down the right-wing. He is also not afraid to work his socks off and can cover a lot of ground to chase down lost causes and make recovering runs inside his own half. The English prospect has shown a few signs of maturity over the past nine months but has been a sporadic option for the Gunners in the Premier League so far.
Is Maitland-Niles The Right Fit For The Toffees?
Hence, a change of scenery could benefit the player this summer as he looks to earn more game time at the highest level of English football. Everton boss Carlo Ancelotti could also be the perfect man to get the best out of Maitland-Niles in the coming seasons due to his experience of nurturing and developing young talents across European football.
The Arsenal wide player will not only add more pace and variety to the Toffees squad but also enhance their overall depth before the start of the new campaign. Furthermore, he will also provide more competition for Seamus Coleman. He could prove to be an ideal replacement for Djibril Sidibé as well if Ancelotti fails to sign him permanently for AS Monaco this summer.
Maitland-Niles ticks all the right boxes in terms of what the Italian tactician usually expects from his first-team players. He has completed 81.9% of his attempted passes in the English top-flight this season which suggests that he won’t have any trouble settling into Everton’s brand of football at Merseyside (stats via whoscored). All in all, the England Under-21 international will be a decent fit for Ancelotti’s side based on his incredible versatility and pace to influence the game at both sides of the field.
