Arsenal are reportedly hoping to offload Ainsley Maitland-Niles on a permanent basis before the end of the summer transfer window.
The versatile Englishman has been on the books in North London for 19 years since joining the club's youth setup but has failed to become a regular fixture under Mikel Arteta.
Maitland-Niles's fortunes did not improve drastically at Roma either, as he was loaned to Jose Mourinho's side for the second half of the 2021-22 season.
The midfielder ended his stint in Italy with a Europa Conference League winners' medal round his neck, but he played just 12 games for the club in all and was an unused substitute in 10 Serie A games.
Maitland-Niles has since returned to London Colney as club chiefs attempt to sort out his future, and he has now entered the final 12 months of his contract with the Gunners.
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According to The Times, Arsenal are keen to cut Maitland-Niles from their books permanently in the coming weeks before losing him on a free transfer at the end of the current season.
However, there are not thought to be any concrete bids for the former Ipswich Town and West Bromwich Albion loanee at this stage, but the hope is that offers will arrive later in the window.
Nottingham Forest were previously linked with a summer swoop for Maitland-Niles, but the Tricky Trees have since ended their interest after signing Neco Williams from Fulham.
Maitland-Niles has not made the squad for either of Arsenal's opening Premier League wins over Crystal Palace or Leicester City, while he started just two top-flight games in the first half of the 2021-22 season.
The Englishman has totalled three goals and eight assists in 132 outings for the North London club in all competitions, winning three FA Cups and two Community Shields in the process.
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Maitland-Niles's versatility has come in handy for Arsenal down the years, with various managers utilising the England international either as a right-back or central midfielder.
However, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Cedric Soares are all competing for the right-back spot, while Mohamed Elneny, Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Albert Sambi Lokonga provide the midfield options.
Maitland-Niles may not be the only right-sided defender to leave Arsenal in the coming weeks, as Hector Bellerin also wants out in order to seal a permanent return to Real Betis.
Bellerin is also out of contract at the Emirates Stadium in the summer of 2023 and has supposedly asked the club to terminate his contract, with Betis unable to pay a fee due to their ongoing financial problems.
Arsenal have already waved goodbye to Alexandre Lacazette, Matteo Guendouzi, Dinos Mavropanos, Lucas Torreira and Bernd Leno this summer, while Pablo Mari, Alex Runarsson, Nuno Tavares, Folarin Balogun and Charlie Patino have left on loan.
Ben Knapton
