Arsenal loanee Ainsley Maitland-Niles is set to leave the club at the end of the season, upon the expiration of his current contract with the club, according to Fabrizio Romano on Twitter [via The Athletic].
In an interview with The Athletic, Maitland-Niles said: “It’s been great journey but it has come to an end now. Southampton is a great club to be at — if they were to make an offer, I’ll be more than happy to stay”.
Maitland-Niles has spent the entirety of the 2022/23 season out on loan at fellow Premier League club Southampton. It has been a tough season for the Saints – they currently sit in last place in the league table.
He has played in a host of different positions this season for Southampton, including central midfield, defensive midfield and on the right wing. So far, he hasn’t scored any goals, but he has notched up a solitary assist.
He would have been a useful utility option had Arsenal chosen to keep him at the club – however, we now know that this will not be the case for next season.
He is keen to remain at Southampton, should they offer him a deal. They have yet to offer him a permanent position, but he would be a fantastic asset to have in the Championship.