Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta has revealed Ainsley Maitland-Niles will discover what the future holds for him at Arsenal at the end of the season.
The 25-year-old is presently on loan at Southampton. But due to Premier League regulations, he will be unable to play against his parent club on Friday night at the Emirates Stadium.
As a result, this will be the first time in just over a month that he is not a member of Ruben Selles’ matchday squad.
Six games will remain on Maitland-Niles’ loan from Southampton. And it appears doubtful that the loan arrangement will be made permanent in the summer transfer window. Especially if he is unable to assist Southampton avoid relegation to the Championship.
According to Football London, Maitland-Niles is predicted to leave Arsenal on a permanent basis before the start of the next campaign. This is due to the fact that he has just a year left on his current deal. And it doesn’t seem like Arsenal will offer him a new contract. So, instead of leaving for free next summer, he is likely to be placed on the transfer market.
What Did Arteta Say About Maitland-Niles?
However, there is a possibility that Maitland-Niles will be handed a lifeline by Arsenal. As Arteta revealed that discussions will take place once the 2022–23 season is over as the team looks for the best outcome for all sides.
“He was a really important part [of the FA Cup win]. It’s a player with incredible versatility that has played in many different positions which at the end, for different reasons – some professional, some personal – he’s had to move around,” the Spaniard said in his pre-Southampton press conference.
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“At the end of the season we will sit down and decide what is the best thing for everyone to do to move forward.”
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