Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles is ‘waiting for a signal’ to complete a loan move to Roma after the Italian side finalised the first part of a deal with the Gunners.
That’s according to Gazzetta Dello Sport, who say the two clubs have ‘reached an agreement’ on a six-month loan deal for around €750,000.
That is the first part of the agreement, but the ‘second part’, which is based on his potential ‘continuation’ in Rome, is still ‘missing.’
Roma would like a right of redemption so that their hands aren’t tied come the summer, should they not wish to sign Maitland-Niles on a permanent basis at this point.
Arsenal, though, are ‘aiming for the obligation’. They want it written in stone that Roma have to sign him but are willing to make that obligation less solid ‘if the world falls down’.
There is also the further obstacle of the purchse price, which Mikel Arteta and co want set at €15m. Roma have only offered €10m so far.
There is still work to be done between the clubs, then, but Roma can push forwards thanks to a deal that they have struck with Maitland-Niles.
He’s ready to sign a possible five-year deal that would increase over time from a starting point of €2.5m a year and is ‘waiting for a signal‘, the classic white smoke they love in Italy, to make the move.
For that to happen, Arsenal will have to complete their negotiations with Roma, which for the time being is yet to happen despite the basis of a loan deal being there.
