Newcastle United target Ainsley Maitland-Niles looks set to be joining Southampton before the transfer window closes.
The Magpies have been linked with a move for the Arsenal academy graduate, as Eddie Howe looks for reinforcements before 11pm Thursday night.
That’s when the transfer window closes, meaning time is running out for teams to strengthen their squad.
Newcastle have had a good window so far, but still need to sign another player or two. We’ve been looking for a centre-midfielder, while the club have been actively in the market for a winger too.
On top of that, there’s a chance that Emil Krafth’s season could be over due to injury. That might force Dan Ashworth to move for a new backup right-back.
That’s why a deal for Maitland-Niles appealed, as he’s a versatile player who could play in all three positions. It was claimed that Newcastle were in talks to sign the 25-year-old from Arsenal, but he’s heading elsewhere.
Romano believes Maitland-Niles is joining Southampton
According to transfer insider Fabrizio Romano, Maitland-Niles is on his way to Southampton despite interest from Newcastle.
He has tweeted that the England international will join the Saints on loan with an option to buy. He will also sign a contract extension with Arsenal, with his deal set to expire in 2023.
Missing out on this transfer shouldn’t irk Toon fans too much. Maitland-Niles isn’t the most exciting player we’ve been linked with this summer.
However, his versatility could have made him a valuable addition to Howe’s squad. But Newcastle will have to look elsewhere, as they aim to bring in further reinforcements before Thursday’s 11pm deadline.
A midfielder appears to be the priority, with talk of a move for Leicester’s Youri Tielemans. That is incredibly exciting, and supporters will be more than happy to miss out on AMN if it means signing the Belgium international.
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