AC Milan are reportedly eager to sign a right-back this summer and are interested in signing Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

According to a report by Italian outlet Calciomercato, Ainsley Maitland-Niles is the subject of interest from Serie A giants AC Milan. The Rossonerare in search of a right-back ahead of the summer transfer window and are showing an interest in the Arsenal youngster.

Aisnley Maitland-Niles joined Arsenal as a six-year-old before progressing through the ranks in the youth setup. The player broke into the first-team setup aged just 17, but it was not until the 2017-18 season that he became a regular part of matchday squads.

Over the course of his short senior career with Arsenal so far, the 22-year-old has made nearly 100 appearances for the Gunners. However, since the appointment of Mikel Arteta as the new Arsenal manager, games have come few and far between for Maitland-Niles.

AFC Bournemouth v Arsenal FC - Premier League
Could Maitland-Niles be on his way out of Arsenal? (Photo by Dan Mullan/Getty Images)

The youngster has seen Sokratis Papastathopoulos being preferred to him in the right-back slot, while Cedric Soares, who joined on loan from Southampton in January, could also be ahead of him in the pecking order when he regains fitness. AC Milan, though, are hoping to offer him an escape route out of Arsenal.

At San Siro, Stefano Pioli currently has Davide Calabria and Andrea Conti at his disposal for the right-back slot. However, neither player has managed to convince nearly enough over the course of this season and there are rumours that at least one of them could be moved on in the summer, as AC Milan look ahead to a summer of rebuilding.

To that end, Maitland-Niles is a viable target for AC Milan, who could also use the 22-year-old in a number of other different positions based on their requirements. The Rossoneri, though, will also have to contend with local rivals Inter Milan in pursuit of the Arsenal star if they are to secure his services in the summer.

Mikel Arteta has urged Maitland-Niles to put his head down and work hard to reclaim his spot in the side. Failure to do so could result in a summer exit from Arsenal and it remains to be seen if AC Milan can beat Inter Milan in the race to sign him this summer.

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