Why Tottenham should not sign Ainsley Maitland-Niles

Despite a need for Tottenham at right fullback, there are several reasons why the position should not be filled by Arsenal product Ainsley Maitland-Niles.

I recently wrote about the right back position and the rumors surrounding the exit of Serge Aurier have been growing louder, however, the answer to Tottenham Hotspur’s needs at the position is not across town in Ashley Maitland-Niles of Arsenal.

While there are more, here are three reasons why Ashley Maitland-Niles should not be making the trip from Woolwich to N17.

Kyle Walker-Peters was better

Whether we are looking just internally or looking elsewhere on the market, there are better alternatives at right fullback than Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who Spurs are considering, per the Daily Mail. Considering Tottenham literally just sold a young, academy graduate right fullback in Kyle Walker-Peters, signing a similar player from a rival makes no sense. If KWP was not good enough to make it at Spurs, what makes anyone think Maitland-Niles is a better option?

The common belief is Maitland-Niles is a better attacking option and can even play in the midfield. However, this is just a belief, as there is no end product to support it. In 100 games for Arsenal, the wingback has managed five career senior team assists. In just 24 games for Spurs, Kyle Walker-Peters met that same number – five.

Maybe interceptions and clearances, something you expect from a defender is more your speed. In 100 matches, Ainsley has 155 for Arsenal, Walker-Peters had 55 in a quarter of the matches. So, by the statistics, KWP is better both defensively and offensively that AMN. The bottom line is if our own Academy graduate, Walker-Peters, was not good enough to for the squad, there is no way a lesser player from our rival academy is.

Tottenham should not help Arsenal’s rebuild

Maybe Spurs are rebuilding just like Arsenal is, but neither is likely to help each other. The idea that Tottenham Hotspur and Daniel Levy are going to pay $20 million – more than for a proven product like Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg – for an unproven fringe player from their top rival is simply crazy. Arsenal has been laying off staff to keep paying the wages for older players and there is absolutely no reason to help them in a time of need.

Arsenal, like Spurs, needs to sell to bring new blood in. Why should Tottenham help their rivals by taking a player off their hands? Now if Levy can negotiate and Maitland-Niles can join for less than $10 million, maybe it is worth the flyer. However, I would rather see the options currently at Spurs in the role.

Japhet Tanganga is better

Just as Walker-Peters is better than Maitland-Niles, so too is Japhet Tanganga. While the position is Serge Aurier’s until something official happens with a transfer, Tanganga is arguably better than Walker-Peters. Based on the trust shown by Jose in the young defender last season, Tanganga has something in him. Add in the fact that while rumors persist about Serge leaving, the number of rumors surrounding players coming back to Spurs at fullback is much lower.

Given everything going on at the position, it is conceivable – although possibly not advisable – that Tottenham goes into the season with Tanganga as the starter and Juan Foyth as his backup. While my personal hope is Aurier stays and Tanganga can be bled into the team slowly, that may not be how things end up.

Regardless of who on the current squad is starting at right fullback against Everton in September, it should be one of the current squad players or another signing, just not Ainsley Maitland-Niles. What do you think, does the Gunners product have something Spurs should want?