Ainsley Maitland-Niles was left frustrated earlier this season after Arsenal decided against letting him leave in the summer transfer window.
However, the 24-year-old admitted in November that he has since put the saga behind him and is solely focusing on what lies ahead.
He has made 11 appearances in all competitions this season and last featured in his side’s 4-0 defeat to Liverpool last month. In recent days, reports from England and Italy have indicated about AS Roma’s interest in the midfielder.
The Serie A side were keen on signing Granit Xhaka in the last window, but were unable to find an agreement with the Gunners.
Il Tempo now state Roma chief Tiago Pinto, ‘in the last few days’, would have ‘experienced the sensation’ of déjà vu, which is ‘anything but pleasant’, when dealing for the transfer of Maitland-Niles.
The ‘only hypothesis taken into consideration’ by Arsenal is to let the player leave on loan, with the ‘obligation to redeem’ upon making certain number of appearances.
This is ‘no small problem’ for Roma, who want to try and bring in loan deals and leave any big expenditure until next summer, with the Gunners’ stance seen as ‘another wall’ for Roma after the whole Xhaka saga a few months ago.
Pinto is set to return to Italy this week, when he will ‘try to find a meeting point in the negotiations’, likely for the north London club’s midfielder.
Everything will also depend on the ‘will’ of the Roma owner, the Friedkin Group, who prefer to see at least one outgoing before making a new purchase in the winter market.
