Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal (X)
Fulham may come up with an improved bid as they look to bolster their midfield by including Smith Rowe in the squad, according to a report by the Standard.
Arsenal have reportedly turned down Fulham’s initial bid for Emile Smith Rowe. The young attacking midfielder is likely to part ways with the Gunners this summer. The London-based club is keen to cash in by selling some fringe players in this transfer window and Smith Rowe is reportedly one of them.
The 23-year-old has suffered with frequent injury issues over the past two seasons. He made only 13 Premier League appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side in the last campaign.
Emile Smith Rowe, who has graduated from the Arsenal academy, will consider leaving his boyhood club this summer if he can secure first-team football. Apart from Fulham, another English club, Crystal Palace was also interested in signing the three-time England international.
But none of them has been able to convince the Arsenal hierarchy with their first offers. Fulham may come up with an improved bid as they look to bolster their midfield by including Smith Rowe in the squad, according to a report by the Standard.
Earlier this year, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked if Emile Smith Rowe would be part of his plans in the 2023-24 season. In response to the quarry, the Spanish manager said, “Yeah. I just look at him and what happened in the last seasons especially, but what happened three seasons ago as well. Take all that. It is the best thing that could have happened for him in his career – if he uses it the right way now. So, don’t look back and say: ‘Ah, if, if’,” the Mirror quoted.
About the youngster’s frequent injury problems, Arteta said, “No, this happened, use it. ‘That was the best thing that could have happened, I had great moments, I had difficult moments, now I know what I want, how to deal with that. That is going to make me a much better player’. And, you could see, the hell of a player that we have in him when he is fit and he is playing at that level.”
Emile Smith Rowe joined the Arsenal academy at the age of nine and made his senior-team debut in 2018. His best performance came in the 2021-22 season when Smith Rowe registered 13 goals in 37 appearances across all competitions. During his six-year-long spell, the young playmaker has also been loaned out to RB Leipzig and Huddersfield. Two years back, Smith Rowe agreed on a contract extension which will expire in 2026.
