Arsenal have now set their stance on selling Emile Smith Rowe this summer as Aston Villa and West Ham United show an interest in targeting a transfer for the midfielder.
The 23-year-old has so far struggled to establish himself in manager Mikel Arteta’s side on a consistent basis this season. Smith Rowe has only played in 16 of Arsenal’s 38 matches in all competitions to date. He has further only started in three fixtures for a total of 357 minutes.
A knee injury over November and December restricted Smith Rowe’s availability. But Arteta has only started the playmaker once in the Premier League since his return to fitness. Smith Rowe opened their 2-1 win at Nottingham Forest and has also only played 20 minutes since.
Arsenal are prepared to sanction Emile Smith Rowe’s transfer
Now, Dean Jones reports that Arsenal are prepared to sell Smith Rowe this summer as long as they receive a suitable offer for his transfer. Even though the Hale End hero is ‘desperate’ to stay at Emirates Stadium. The Arsenal academy product is raring to get back in their side.
Arteta’s reluctance to field Smith Rowe even in games Arsenal are controlling, like their 6-0 win at Sheffield United on Monday, has tempted club chiefs to warm to his transfer. Arsenal are keen to take their squad to the next level in the summer but they need to sanction exits.
Emirates Stadium chiefs are confident that Smith Rowe would generate a ‘decent’ fee in the off-season, too. He earned three caps for England during the 2021/22 season, whilst he also scored 10 goals in 33 Premier League games. But he only played 12 last term due to injuries.
Aston Villa and West Ham are interested in Emile Smith Rowe
Aston Villa and West Ham remain long-term admirers of Smith Rowe, nonetheless, and are showing interest for the summer. But Aston Villa fear breaching the Premier League’s profit and sustainability rules (PSR). While West Ham also want to try to lower their expenditures.
Arsenal slapped a £60m price tag on Smith Rowe ahead of the January 2024 transfer market to fend off West Ham’s interest, per TEAMtalk. He is also under contract at Emirates Stadium until June 2026. So, the Gunners could price the midfielder out of the market in the summer.
Arteta knows what Smith Rowe is capable of offering Arsenal given his superb 2021/22 term in north London. But the London-born maestro has struggled to recapture that form around spells in the London Colney treatment room and Arteta’s lack of willingness to give minutes.
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