Arsenal tell Ainsley Maitland-Niles he is available for transfer | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta has fallen short in his efforts to keep Ainsley Maitland-Niles at Arsenal next year, as the Brighton and Everton target has been told by the Arsenal board he will be available for transfer this summer.

Arsenal have been hit hard by the coronavirus, making 55 members of their non-playing staff redundant earlier in the week while acknowledging they must raise funds in order to bring new players into the fold and renew existing deals.

Though Arteta wants to keep hold of the soon-to-be 23-year-old, the board have overruled him and see Maitland-Niles as surplus to requirements.

Arsenal’s longest-serving player, having joined at the age of five, is valued around £20m due to his versatility and the fact that he has three years remaining on his current deal.

The Gunners are also looking to move Sokratis, Lucas Torreira, Sead Kolasinac, and Henrikh Mkhitaryan in the current window, while both Shkodran Mustafi and Rob Holding are also available.

The club are also eager to sell Mesut Özil and Matteo Guendouzi.

Maitland-Niles made 32 appearances (23 starts) in all competitions this season and has made 100 first-team appearances for the club.