Southampton are pushing to agree a loan with option to buy deal for Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles ahead of competition from Bournemouth and West Ham.

Maitland-Niles, who won the Europa Conference League while on loan at Roma last season, has fallen out of favour under Mikel Arteta and is expected to leave the Gunners in the coming days.

The north London club are also keen to offload the 24-year-old this summer as he has entered the final 12 months of his deal at the Emirates Stadium.

While a loan move is expected to come to fruition before the transfer window closes, Arsenal are insistent on sealing a permanent transfer rather than losing the England international for free next summer.

Maitland-Niles is keen for a fresh start to secure regular minutes elsewhere and will weigh up his options after tumbling down the midfield pecking order.

The Gunners have recruited Fabio Vieira and Oleksandr Zinchenko this summer, with both players capable of slotting into the Gunners’ engine room.

Maitland-Niles has not featured in any of Arsenal’s three opening Premier League games – with the north London outfit currently sat top of the table.

The midfielder spent the second half of last season on loan at Jose Mourinho’s Roma and helped the Giallorossi clinch the inaugural Europa Conference League trophy.