Arsenal’s first January signing ‘agreed’ with midfielder set for exit

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal could secure their first signing of the January transfer window very soon with Ainsley Maitland-Niles set to finally depart the Emirate Stadium

With just days left until the January transfer window opens it appears Arsenal are already getting business done with one player set to come in and another to depart the club.

Ainsley Maitland-Niles is close to reaching a loan agreement with Roma which would see him move to Italy and become Jose Mourinho’s first signing of the new year.

And the Gunners could bring in yet another creative midfield talent with reports suggesting boss Mikel Arteta has given the green light to plans to bring in former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho from Barcelona.

Elsewhere Granit Xhaka has performed a sensational gesture to two Arsenal fans after their match against Wolves was postponed.

Here are Football Audit latest Arsenal headlines.

Xhaka’s incredible gesture

Two very fortunate Arsenal fans are counting his lucky stars despite travelling all the way from the US to watch the Gunners take on Wolves – even though the game was postponed.

And that is because Granit Xhaka has now invited him to their New Years’ Day game with Manchester City as his personal guest.

Jack Robinson had initially been left heartbroken after flying over from St Louis, Missouri, for the Wolves fixture only to find out it wasn’t going ahead.

But the power of social media ensured former Gunners captain Xhaka saw his heartache – and he responded in the best way possible.

Maitland-Niles set for exit

Jose Mourinho seems set to bring Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Roma on loan until the end of the season.

It comes after Mikel Arteta refused to let the player depart for Everton last summer.

Despite publicly backing Maitland-Niles, Arteta has rarely found a place for him in his starting XI following his proposed move during the last window fell apart.

A clause that’s been put in his deal to Roma sums up Arteta’s feelings about Maitland-Niles – and appears to show he’s finally accepted the academy graduate no longer have a future at the club.

First January signing ‘agreed’

Former Liverpool star Philippe Coutinho is close to joining Arsenal with his agents said to be “travelling to London” to secure the deal, it has been reported.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is said to be keen to secure the Brazilian playmaker’s signature on loan until the end of the season despite already having a plethora of creative midfield talent at his disposal.

Reports have suggested the club is ready to table a “firm loan offer” while others have stated that Arteta gave his superiors “a resounding yes when approving the arrival”.

It remains to be seen whether a deal can be struck for the Barca star, with Arsenal only wanting to pay part of his £150,000 per-week salary, according to reports.