Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe is closing in on a move to Fulham, which could see the Hale End graduate rake in a record sale.
Arsenal have failed to sell consistently well over the years, with deals for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Alex Iwobi the two biggest in the club’s history, but Smith Rowe’s departure could match these fees.
Fulham are closing in on a £35m move for the Englishman, who has started just three times in the last two seasons.
Smith Rowe’s exit is a sad one for Arsenal fans, as despite his lack of minutes, he came through the academy ranks as a top-class talent, and before his injury issues was a key player alongside Bukayo Saka.
Whilst £35m is a good fee now for a player who is on the fringes of the squad, former Aston Villa striker Gabby Agbonlahor has now claimed that Smith Rowe could have been, and could end up being worth over double that.
Gabby Agbonlahor claims Emile Smith Rowe can double in value after Arsenal exit
Speaking to talkSPORT, Agbonlahor claimed that Smith Rowe would have been worth £80m two years ago, and it was Arsenal’s fault that his value decreased so much.
“Arsenal would have been looking at Smith Rowe two years ago and would have said, ‘Look, we want £80 million’. So, Arsenal, is it their own fault for not playing a player and then his value goes down? I think in two years’ time, we are all going to be saying, ‘Fulham got Smith Rowe for £35 million,'” he stated.
“I think it’s a great deal (for Fulham) because he is 24. He is not 29, not 30, no sell-on value. He is 24. Hopefully, he can get over that (his injury record) and hope he can get the right physios as well to help him get over it.
“If he can get over that injury record, Fulham play exciting football. Marco Silva, they have got an exciting team he is building there.
“So he is going to get a lot of game time, he is going to enjoy his football there, and we could be looking back in 18 months, two years, and saying ‘Oh, Smith Rowe, all these clubs in for Smith Rowe, 26, clubs could pay £60, £70 million for him’.”
Arsenal need to improve their timing of sales
Whilst there was little Arsenal could do over Smith Rowe given his injury issues in the last two years, the sentiment does stand that the club can improve in their timing of sales.
When players drop out of the team and hardly feature, their values naturally drop. Arsenal are now seeing with Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah, two players who have one league start in 2024 between them, that clubs are unwilling to meet their asking price.
Smith Rowe was an outstanding talent when he broke through, but Arsenal have done well to earn £35m for a fringe player. If he does rediscover his form, and becomes a £70m player, it will be because he was given the game time and a fresh start at Fulham that he could not receive at Arsenal.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
