Ipswich Town of the Championship are closing on a deal to take highly-rated Arsenal youngster Ainsley Maitland-Niles to Portman Road on a season-long loan deal.

The 17-year-old winger has come through the Gunners' academy and has now been deemed ready to move out in search of first-team football - something which Mick McCarthy's side believe they can offer.

Should the deal be completed as expected, the powerful winger will be a direct replacement for former Tractor Boys man Paul Anderson, who is expected to move to Championship rivals Birmingham City.

The winger is yet another Arsenal academy gem

Maitland-Niles has been with Arsenal since the age of nine and has graduated from the Hale End academy, going on to play for his club and for England at a number of different youth categories.

Described by the official Arsenal website as "a pacy winger with an eye for goal", Maitland-Niles will look to follow in the footsteps of former top-flight loanees Patrick Bamford and Alex Pritchard, who each made a sizable impression while on loan in the second division last season.

He also has two senior Gunners appearances to his name, which both came in the 2014/15 season as Arsenal managed a third-placed finish in the Premier League, finally breaking their fourth-place 'curse'.

He boasts a 100% win ratio with the first team

His professional debut came early on in the season at the highest level of club football, as a half-time substitute for Aaron Ramsey in the fearsome surroundings of Galatasaray in the Champions League.

Less than a week after that 4-1 victory in Turkey, Maitland-Niles made his Premier League debut as he came on to replace another academy product, Jack Wilshere, in another 4-1 win at home to Newcastle United.

Ipswich must be careful with their money

Following the £8million sale of Tyrone Mings to newly-promoted Bournemouth, McCarthy has money to spend but will look to do so carefully, examining the loan market and potential free transfers as well as permanent signings.