Some Arsenal fans are still holding a grudge against AS Roma for the collapse of the Granit Xhaka deal in the summer transfer window.
And it has brought about some brilliant suggestions amid talk that Ainsley Maitland-Niles is subject of interest from Serie A giants ahead of the January transfer window.
According to ESPN, Roma are in talks regards to a loan deal after the club’s sporting director Tiago Pinto made contact with Arsenal to explore the possibility of signing the midfielder next month.
It is also claimed that Maitland-Niles is open to a switch and that Roma are keen to discuss a loan move that includes an option to make the deal permanent at the end of the season.
As expected, a number of Arsenal fans have been reacting to this potential deal.
Of course, Maitland-Niles is the latest Arsenal player to be linked with a move to Stadio Olimpico and it is causing some supporters to have flashbacks of what happened in the summer.
At one point, Xhaka looked destined to link up with Jose Mourinho in Rome as personal terms between the midfielder and the club had been agreed, but the sticking point was Gunners’ demands of €20m (£17m) for the Swiss international.
In the end, an agreement over the transfer fee couldn’t be reached and Xhaka remains a key player for Arteta and that’s despite his season being disrupted by a knee injury that caused him to miss nine games across all competitions.
But given how difficult negotiations were with Roma for Xhaka, it has led some Gunners fans to believe any deal for Maitland-Niles must start in the £35m region in certain cases.
(Image: Getty Images)
Below are some brilliant reactions on Reddit…
410dad said: “Alright then. Obligation £20m plus the £10m you wasted time for with Xhaka… and an extra £5m cause you’re a pain to deal with.”
Acefire4 said: “A loan with option to buy seems quite reasonable tho, especially with Mourinho in charge and a few English players (Smalling & Abraham) already there.
“Could be a good way of increasing AMN’s value similar to how Chelsea did it with Tomori, just hope that the option to buy is £20m+.”
Fabulous_Audience_74 said: “Wouldn’t sell to them. Especially after the disrespectful Xhaka negotiations.”
danmac0817 said: “Yeah £20m is too low to lose him mid season just as AFCON kicks in.”
StonnyHardges said: “Roma to offer about £2.50 and a diet coke.”
Who should ARSENAL look to keep, loan or sell this January? Have your say from the options below.
Meanwhile, some Arsenal fans are open to the idea of letting Maitland-Niles leave in January, but only on the condition that a replacement comes in.
mazdamansouri said: “Sell AMN replace with Aouar for the same price. Boom.”
doablewarrior said: “I guess Ceballos will be back in January.”