EVERTON are interested in signing Arsenal star Ainsley Maitland-Niles for £14.4million in January, according to reports.

It's believed the versatile player, 24, was close to moving to Goodison Park in the summer before a deal was blocked late on by the Gunners.

According to ESPN, Maitland-Niles was set to join Everton on deadline day but remained at the Emirates after talks with manager Mikel Arteta.

Reports claim the Toffees will now try to sign the player permanently in January to give new manager Rafael Benitez more options.

Maitland-Niles is capable of playing anywhere in midfield and can also offer competition for incumbent Everton right-back Seamus Coleman.

The Arsenal ace is valued at £14.4m by Transfermarkt and has two years remaining on his existing Emirates deal.

Maitland-Niles hit out at Arsenal on Instagram in August, writing: "All I wanna do is go where I'm wanted and where I'm gonna play."

He was reportedly banished from first-team training after the outburst but is thought to be back in the manager's plans.

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Maitland-Niles made just 11 Premier League appearances for the Gunners last term and spent the second half of the season on loan at West Brom.

The five-cap England international has been at Arsenal since 2003, playing 123 senior games for the club in all competitions to date.

Maitland-Niles has won the FA Cup and Community Shield twice during his time at the Emirates and has also spent time on loan at Ipswich Town.

Boss Arteta has insisted the player remains in his plans despite the lack of game time under his leadership.

The Spanish coach said: "Any private conversations with players, on the role we believe they can have in the team, is always discussed openly but privately and that is how we resolve the matters.

"I am happy he has stayed, that was our intention and he is another player in the squad."

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