West Ham United could have a big advantage over Everton in the race to sign Arsenal ace Ainsley Maitland-Niles this summer.
In other news…Report: West Ham will try to sell attacker for £12.9m this summer
The Hammers have been linked with a move to sign the 23-year-old Gunners star (The Sun).
The Toffees want him as well according to a report from The Daily Mail.
The key difference, however, is that Everton allegedly see Maitland-Niles as a right-back.
The 23-year-old Arsenal man has made is very clear that he sees his future as a central midfielder, however.
West Ham would obviously not be buying AMN as a right-back. David Moyes already has the brilliant Vladimir Coufal, Ryan Fredericks and young starlet Ben Johnson to choose from.
West Ham have huge advantage over Everton in race to sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles
Toffees boss Carlo Ancelotti is on the hunt for a right-back. And if the Italian makes it clear to the versatile Arsenal ace that he sees his future at the right side of defence, he surely won’t be keen on a move to Goodison Park.
If the Hammers manage to finish ahead of Everton in the table and subsequently qualify for Europe, it will strengthen our chances of signing Maitland-Niles even more.
And what a superb signing the Arsenal man would be for West Ham.
Maitland-Niles has energy, pace and power in abundance. He embodies everything that the modern day player needs to succeed.
The Arsenal man has really impressed during a loan spell with West Brom this season.
He would provide stiff competition for Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek in the middle of the park at the London Stadium.
Maitland-Niles could be available for just £20 million this summer according to the Daily Mail. Signing him seems like an absolute no-brainer for West Ham this summer.
Read also: Mark Lawrenson makes two-goal Brighton vs West Ham prediction
And it could be argued that due to Maitland-Niles’ positional preference, West Ham are in the driving seat for his signature ahead of Everton.
If the Hammers do sign the 23-year-old Arsenal man this summer it will very much be our gain and the Toffees’ loss.