Ainsley Maitland-Niles: Wolves and Arsenal in talks over four-year deal

Reports suggest Arsenal will let Maitland-Niles go for around £20m

Sky Sports News reporter Dharmesh Sheth says Arsenal's Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Sead Kolasinac could both leave the club this summer

Wolves are in advanced talks with Arsenal over a four-year deal for Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

Wolves manager Nuno Espírito Santo is keen to strengthen both his central midfield and full-back options and the versatile 22-year-old fits the bill on both counts.

The need for reinforcements has intensified after defender Jonny Otto was sidelined for between six and nine months after injuring his anterior cruciate ligament in Wolves' Europa League win against Olympiacos earlier this month.

Image: Nuno Espirito Santo led Wolves to the last eight of the Europa League

Maitland-Niles has three years left on his present deal at the Emirates, but is understood to be surplus to requirements as Mikel Arteta looks to raise funds to rebuild his first-team squad. Reports suggest Arsenal will let him go for around £20m.

He played 32 times for Arsenal last season and has represented England from U17 through to U21 level.

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He was also part of the England squad that won the U20 World Cup in 2017.

Analysis: Ideal fit for Wolves

Sky Sports' Adam Bate:

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'Nuno places huge importance on positional flexibility. Leander Dendoncker and Romain Saiss have been used in defence as well as midfield, while Adama Traore has operated at wing-back or as part of the front three. Maitland-Niles would fit in well as a player who can be deployed in multiple positions.

'Like the injured Jonny, the man he would be likely to replace at left wing-back in Wolves' system, he can play on the right or the left flank. The possibility of featuring in midfield - if there is a vacancy there - is also an option with Ruben Vinagre able to fill the void out on the left.

'Maitland-Niles produced one of his best performances for Arsenal in their 2-0 win over Wolves at Molineux in July and it will not have gone unnoticed that he shut down Traore so effectively that afternoon. This would be a promising signing for a Wolves side that needs strengthening.'

Analysis: Arsenal need sale to raise funds

Image: Wolves are set to hand Ainsley Maitland-Niles a four-year deal

Sky Sports' Nick Wright:

'It seemed Maitland-Niles had been handed an Arsenal lifeline when he returned to the side for the final weeks of the season having previously been left on the fringes by Mikel Arteta, but a move makes sense for all parties.

'The 22-year-old is a talented and versatile member of the Arsenal squad, but he is unlikely to get the regular football he craves at the Emirates Stadium, especially after the Gunners brought in Cedric Soares to provide extra cover at right-back, and the club also need to raise funds for further recruits.

'Maitland-Niles's age, his potential, and his ability to play in both midfield and defence make him a sellable asset. Arsenal may come to regret it, depending on how he progresses at Molineux, but cashing in now, before he begins to run down his contract, looks like the sensible option in the current climate.'

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