Ainsley Maitland-Niles has made nine appearances for Arsenal in the Premier League this season. Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Arsenal are in talks with Ainsley Maitland-Niles over a new deal following his impressive performances this season, sources close to the club have told ESPN FC.

Maitland-Niles has more than 18 months to run on his current deal, but Arsenal want to secure his future and reward him for his progress with a new long-term contract.

The 20-year-old made his first-team debut in December 2014, when he became Arsenal's second-youngest player to feature in the Champions League by coming off the bench against Galatasaray.

He made his first Premier League start for Arsenal against West Ham United in December and he has made five starts with four appearances as a substitute in the league this season.

Maitland-Niles was used in an unfamiliar left-back role during the busy Christmas period due to injuries to Nacho Monreal and Sead Kolasinac, and he excelled in games against West Ham, Liverpool and Chelsea.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger thinks highly of Maitland-Niles, who has been with the club since he was 9.

He has represented England at various youth levels, from the under-17 team to the under-21 team. He was part of the under-20 squad that won the World Cup in June.