Ainsley Maitland-Niles has been released by Arsenal - just under two years after Everton's loan approach for the versatile player was rejected.
The Blues were in talks to sign the England man in August 2021 as they looked to sign right-back reinforcements. During that time they were also targeting Nathan Patterson from Rangers, who eventually signed in January 2022.
During the 25-year-old's time at the Emirates, he made 72 Premier League appearances for the Gunners but had four loan spells away from north London with Ipswich Town, West Brom, Roma and Southampton.
Maitland-Niles is traditionally a full-back but has been deployed as a midfielder, winger and wing-back with an apparent preference to play out wide.
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Back in 2021, it had been claimed that he was considered as part of Mikel Arteta's side in the bigger picture, but he would eventually join AS Roma on a short-term deal until the end of the season in the following January.
Following the breakdown of loan talks, the then-24-year-old sent a blunt 14-word message to Arsenal after the Everton's approach was turned down. Taking to Instagram in 2021, he said: "All I wanna do is go where I’m wanted and where I’m gonna play."
Now, 22 months on, he has been released by Arsenal as the Gunners confirmed their retained list following their second-placed finish in the Premier League last season.
Maitland-Niles was the only senior player to be let go as he was among 13 players leaving north London as Zach Awe, Joel Ideho, George Lewis, Matt Smith and Tom Smith were named as the free agents from the U23s and U18s squads.
It remains to be seen if Everton register an interest this summer, but he was certainly a player the club targeted in the past.
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