EVERTON EYEING SWOOP FOR MAITLAND-NILES

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Merseyside giants Everton are reportedly eyeing a transfer swoop for Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles. This is according to the report from the stables of Sky Sports which stated that the Toffees want to sign the England international on loan before the transfer window closes on Tuesday. Maitland-Niles has a contract at Arsenal that runs until the summer of 2023.

Maitland-Niles, 23, made his debut for the Gunners first team in 2014 having come through the club's youth system and he went on to make 122 appearances for the club till date. He's a utility player but his preference is to cement a first team place in midfield though Everton are after the Englishman for him to provide cover at right-back.

Arsenal player Maitland-Niles came close to joining Wolverhampton Wanderers in a £20m deal last summer before manager Mikel Arteta made a late u-turn to keep his services at the Emirates Stadium. He would later join West Brom on loan during the January transfer window of this year in search of more playing time. He was a regular in the Baggies midfield during the second half of last season but was unable to stop the team from dropping down to the Championship at the end of the Premier League campaign last term.
Everton have a new manager in Spanish tactician Rafael Benitez who has led them to four points from the first two Premier League games this season and the club is ready to back him during the rest of the transfer window. The Toffees are already in talks to sign winger Luis Diaz from FC Porto of Portugal with Colombian playmaker James Rodriguez being used as a makeweight for the deal. Rodriguez is likely to join Porto on loan. Everton are also on the trail of Frenchman Neal Maupay who plays for Brighton and Hove Albion and another Frenchman in Odsonne Edouard who's a Celtic player, while Everton star Moise Kean is in talks to join Juventus in the Italian Serie A.