ARSENAL are still trying to offload Hector Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles before tomorrow’s transfer deadline but have yet to receive an offer for the unwanted duo.
Both players are now in the final year of their Emirates contract and have been told they do not feature in Mikel Arteta’s plans.
Neither has featured in the first team squad this year after returning from loan spells last season.
Now Arsenal are trying to get them off their wage bill before the transfer window closes at 11pm tomorrow.
Bellerin, 27, is still hoping that Arsenal will allow him to leave on a free transfer rather than continue to pay his £110,000-a-week wages for the next nine months.
He is eager to return to Real Betis after last season’s successful loan spell but knows the Spanish minnows cannot afford any kind of transfer fee.
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There is even a suggestion that he could agree to terminate his Arsenal contract without a pay-off to allow him to move as a free agent outside of the transfer window.
Maitland-Niles is also in limbo after returning to the club from a six-month loan spell with Jose Mourinho’s Roma.
The 25-year-old former England international has attracted attention from a number of Premier League clubs including Newcastle, Bournemouth and Southampton.
But none have yet matched Arsenal’s asking price in the region of £10million and the Gunners do not want to allow him to leave on loan in the final year of his contract.
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Even concerns about a potential lack of cover in central midfield following the recent injuries to Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny are unlikely to open the door for Maitland-Niles’ return to the squad.
But winger Reiss Nelson could now be required to stay and provide cover for Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli following Nicolas Pepe’s recent loan move to Nice.
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