Nottingham Forest is set for a return to the top flight of English football for the first time in over 20-years after Forest secured promotion to the Premier League at the expense of Huddersfield Town and could begin their hunt for added quality in north London after being linked with interest in Arsenal’s Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

According to reports via the Mirror’s John Cross, Forest are ready to pounce on a potential move for the Hale End academy graduate as Arsenal is said to be ready to cash in on the 24-year-old versatile England international.

EXCLUSIVE: Ainsley Maitland-Niles wanted by Nottingham Forest as Arsenal ace made transfer priority | @johncrossmirror https://t.co/gNP60hOj7f pic.twitter.com/9zLOxa18iV

— Mirror Football (@MirrorFootball) June 10, 2022

Maitland-Niles spent the second half of last season on loan with Serie A outfit AS Roma under José Mourinho and took home a winners medal in the UEFA Conference league after the capital outfit saw off Dutch giants Feyenoord in a 1-0 win, but the Gunners midfielder was unable to keep his place under Mourinho after making a strong start to live in the eternal city.

The London-native made six straight appearances after securing a January loan move which included five starts but could only be viewed as a depth option for the rest of the season under Mourinho, and it has become painfully clear that his future remains away from Arsenal.

ROME, ITALY – FEBRUARY 19: Ainsley Maitland-Niles AS Roma) and Darko Lazovic of Hellas Verona battle for the ball during the Serie A match between AS Roma and Hellas Verona FC at Stadio Olimpico on February 19, 2022, in Rome, Italy. (Photo by Matteo Ciambelli/DeFodi Images via Getty Images)

But his current market value of £8.5million (via Transfermarkt) would certainly be at a price point that could be too good for Forest to pass up as manager Steve Cooper will look to bolster the first-team ranks.

A deal for Maitland-Niles could come at the right time for Forst given the growing interest from Tottenham for Middlesbrough right-back Djed Spence, who had a highly-successful loan spell with Forest last season.

Forest was said to want to consider a full move for Spence this summer after securing Premier League status, but with Spurs growing in confidence in securing a move for the highly-rated defender, Maitland-Niles offers a cut-price option that comes with Premier League experience and would likely jump at the chance at securing first-team football once again after falling out of favor with Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.

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