Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu uncertainty emerges at Arsenal amid £110m Arteta wish

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Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu both now face uncertain futures at Arsenal as rumours of a potential swap deal have emerged. 

Arsenal are keen to sign a striker in the upcoming summer transfer window.

Mikel Arteta wants to add more firepower to his squad. Arsenal have made a move to sign Benjamin Sesko, whilst rumours linking the North London club with Victor Osimhen have reemerged.

Arsenal could use Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu in Victor Osimhen swap

However, the Nigerian forward would not come to the Emirates Stadium cheaply. Napoli are said to want £110 million in exchange for Osimhen. 

It now seems, though, that there may be a means for the Gunners to drive the 25-year-old’s price tag down. According to Italian publication Corriere dello Sport, whilst Arsenal are interested in Osimhen, Napoli are also keen on Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu. This has sparked speculation that swap deal of sorts could be on the cards.

Why Arsenal might consider parting with Emile Smith Rowe and Takehiro Tomiyasu

Fulham have also been linked with a move for Smith Rowe, with the Hale End academy graduate’s future now in significant doubt. Whilst his talent cannot be questioned, he has fallen down the pecking order in recent seasons and it hard to see where he might fit in Arteta’s future plans.

Whilst he is a popular figure at the Emirates Stadium, Smith Rowe may well be wise to move on this summer in order to seek regular football elsewhere. Whether he would be open to a switch to Serie A, though, remains to be seen.

Meanwhile, Tomiyasu is already familiar with life in the top flight of Italian football as he plied his trade for Bologna prior to joining Arsenal. The Japanese international is a key player for the Gunners when fit, and is arguably Arteta’s first choice left-back. However, recurrent injury issues have been a problem throughout his time at the club.

Arsenal are on the hunt for a new left-back, and therefore may be willing to part with Tomiyasu in order to sign Osimhen whilst knowing that they are also set to strengthen in that part of the pitch.

Of course, there are many moving parts that would be involved in such a deal, and at this stage there is little to suggest that the Gunners’ interest in Osimhen is particularly advanced, much less Napoli’s attempts to sign either Smith Rowe or Tomiyasu. This is certainly a situation to keep an eye on though.