Transfer Rumors: Overshadowed Arsenal Midfielder Closing In On Deal To Join Serie A Club

Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal FC appears headed to Serie A with reports that AS Roma is now in advanced talks with the Gunners over a potential loan deal.

According to Gianluca Di Marzio, the Gunners and La Lupa are now in advanced talks, with the discussions accelerating recently. Once made official, the 24-year-old winger will likely join José Mourinho’s side by the January transfer window but initially on loan. A potential permanent transfer could follow in the summer.

Deep talks have allegedly already taken place, and the only remaining things are the loan terms and fees needed to seal the deal.

Discussions reportedly centered on a four-year deal, but there was no mention of the potential fee for a permanent deal that has been negotiated, ESPN Roma said, citing sources.

For his part, Maitland-Niles could have left Emirates Stadium as early as last summer. However, he was prevailed upon by Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to stay on.

Unfortunately for the English midfielder, that decision hardly reaped dividends. His first-team chances were limited. Worse, he is currently out of contention to be a starter with other players such as Granit Xhaka, Thomas Partey and Albert Sambi Lokonga all ahead of him in the pecking order.

Last season, Maitland-Niles played for West Brom on loan and made a good account of himself. He appeared set to join the Wolves before Arteta’s intervention.

It will now be a different story with the expectations of the English player flailing. Rather than wait, it would seem to be in the best interest of Maitland-Niles to take his act elsewhere, and Roma appears to be a logical landing spot.

One player the 24-year-old may want to check out is Tammy Abraham. Since arriving in the Italian capital, the English striker has come to his own and shone brightly. With potentially better chances of being utilized by Mourinho, Maitland-Niles could finally get that break and blossom into the star he should be.

Maitland-Niles' last appearance with the Gunners in any competition was on Nov. 20. He came in as a second-half substitute in a game that Arsenal lost at the hands of Liverpool FC, 4-0. Before that, he got his last start against Watford, where Arteta lauded his attitude.

"He has a huge talent which is he is versatile enough to adapt to any position on the pitch," Arteta said at the time.