Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ move to AS Roma is now said to be at an advanced stage, with some in the Italian press talking as if the deal is already done.

LONDON, ENGLAND - NOVEMBER 07: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal battles for possession with Juraj Kucka of Watford FC during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on November 07, 2021 in London, England. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal battles for possession with Juraj Kucka of Watford FC during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Watford at Emirates Stadium on November 07, 2021. (Photo by Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

On Monday, it was reported that AS Roma had made their first offer to Arsenal for Ainsley Maitland-Niles, proposing a loan with an option to buy.

According to the report, Roma proposed an initial loan for a fee of €500-700k with an option to buy worth €10m in the summer.

Arsenal wanted more than that, but it was said that an agreement was not far off.

At first, Maitland-Niles wasn’t reportedly not convinced by Roma’s proposal, but after holding talks with the club, he learned they intend to sign him permanently in the summer if he does well on his loan.

That seemingly won him over.

Fabrizio Romano also confirmed the ‘advanced talks’ between Roma, Arsenal, and Maitland-Niles.

Romano added that Jose Mourinho is keen and Maitland-Niles is open to accepting, but negotiations are ongoing over the loan fee and purchase option.

This was followed up by Calciomercato who think the deal has now moved to a €700,000 loan fee and an option to buy at €15m.

They add, “the concrete objective is to do it in the next few hours, perhaps as early as tomorrow.”

Maitland-Niles is currently out of action with Covid-19, having missed a couple of games before that with a non-Covid illness, so he’s not having much luck on that front.

That will obviously delay any potential move from going through immediately.

ESPN were the first to report that Roma were in talks to sign Maitland-Niles on loan. They wrote that the player is open to the move, and Roma sporting director Tiago Pinto had made contact with Arsenal.

The Athletic confirmed that Roma are interested in Maitland-Niles, though they claimed the move was at an early stage last week.

The outlet added that Everton are still interested in the player, but he would prefer to join Roma.

BRIGHTON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 02: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal embraces Lewis Dunk of Brighton & Hove Albion after the draw in the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal at American Express Community Stadium on October 02, 2021 in Brighton, England. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND: Ainsley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal embraces Lewis Dunk of Brighton & Hove Albion after the draw in the Premier League match between Brighton & Hove Albion and Arsenal at American Express Community Stadium on October 02, 2021. (Photo by Steve Bardens/Getty Images)

Maitland-Niles hasn’t played a huge amount since he pushed to leave over the summer.

In total, he’s only up to 472 minutes for the campaign, just over five matches’ worth. That’s less than a quarter of the minutes Arsenal have played.

Unless he feels like that’s going to change, it seems likely the 24-year-old will push for Arsenal to sanction a loan in January.