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Roma will take Arsenal midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles on loan until the end of the season.
Their initial proposal included an option to buy the 24-year-old at the end of the season, but this was turned down by the Gunners, although the Italian side are still interested in signing him permanently in the summer if they can raise the funds..
The Serie A club will pay his wages in full, and will also pay the Gunners a loan fee plus bonuses.
The move is dependent upon the player visiting the Italian embassy in London to secure a work permit.
Allowing Maitland-Niles ot go is seen by many as a sure sign that Arsenal will be signing a midfield replacement in the current market.
They are short of cover in that area of the pitch, having lost both Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny to the African Cup of Nations. That leave only Granit Xhaka and Albert Sambi Lakonga as recognised central midfield players. Martin Ødegaard or Emile Smith-Rowe could drop back there, it would rob the team of some of their attacking options further forward.
Andy is an exiled English football fan living in Cyprus. He loves all sports but football is his abiding passion, and he still has dreams every now and then about scoring the winning goal in a Wembley Cup Final, even though his playing days are long gone. He follows most major leagues, across Europe at least, and has a favoured team in each. When he’s not watching, listening, reading or downloading podcasts about football, he spend his time worrying about his beloved Arsenal.