West Ham should hijack Southampton in their alleged Ainsley Maitland-Niles swoop

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West Ham should consider hijacking Southampton in their reported swoop for Arsenal ace Ainsley Maitland-Niles this summer.

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The Saints are keen to sign the Gunners midfielder this summer according to The Mirror.

Hammers boss David Moyes desperately needs to bolster his central midfield ranks at the London Stadium this summer.

The Scot should be on the look-out for more energy, dynamism and energy to provide competition and cover for Declan Rice and Tomas Soucek.

And Arsenal ace Maitland-Niles certainly has those qualities in abundance.

The Sun have claimed recently that West Ham are keen to bring the 23-year-old Gunners star to East London.

West Ham should try to hijack Southampton in Maitland-Niles race

The Goodmayes born ace has energy, pace and power in abundance. He embodies everything that the modern day player needs to succeed.

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.

Mikel Arteta is ready to sanction the 23-year-old’s exit from the Emirates this summer (The Express).

So with any luck, West Ham might just be able to pick him up for cheaper than his alleged £20m price-tag.

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Much will depend on whether Moyes actually thinks he needs to sign a central midfielder more than a centre-back. The Scot is prioritising the addition of a top class striker. He wants to bring Jesse Lingard to the London Stadium on a permanent deal as well.

So perhaps the chances of us signing Maitland-Niles as well will hinge on whether Moyes brings a top class defender to East London first.

We think the Hammers’ need for more competition in the middle of the park outweighs our deficiencies in central defence, however.

And signing the 23-year-old from Arsenal would be a very wise move this summer.