Arsenal have announced their retained list on Friday and amid the departures on a free transfer, Ainsley Maitland-Niles will leave The Emirates for nothing – a player Marcelo Bielsa reportedly eyed at Leeds in the summer of 2021.
Maitland-Niles, 25, has returned to Arsenal this summer after another loan away from the Gunners. He spent the campaign on loan at Southampton, where he was very much a bit-part player – managing just 26 appearances.
Despite his versatility – able to play on either side of the defence or in central midfield – and the fact that Maitland-Niles has five England caps, he has gone on a free. He will now be looking to find himself a new home this summer.
It might be that he has to drop into the Championship in order to find a club where he can play regularly. Back in 2021, The Mirror said that Leeds were one of a number of clubs interested with Bielsa looking to strengthen his side.
Arsenal release Maitland-Niles on a free: Bielsa eyed him at Leeds in 2021
It is a shame that Maitland-Niles has been unable to build on what was an encouraging start to his career. He played 132 times for the Gunners and as aforementioned, won five England caps. But he was desperate to play in midfield.
That is despite getting his England caps largely when playing on the left side of defence for the Gunners. So, it will be interesting to see where Maitland-Niles goes now. Some Premier League clubs may be keen, as a squad player.
Maitland-Niles is not adverse to going abroad, spending some time on loan at Jose Mourinho’s Roma. So, there is every chance that Maitland-Niles will go to a top-tier club but if he is to start in England, it might be Championship.
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