Arsenal open preliminary talks over Emile Smith Rowe deal – sources
Emile Smith Rowe will be allowed to leave Arsenal this summer as Fulham open preliminary talks over a deal, sources have told Football Insider.
Speaking on the latest edition of Football Insider’s Inside Track podcast, senior correspondent Pete O’Rourke revealed that Fulham have retained their interest in the attacking midfielder as they step up their interest.
The boss is willing to let some of the club’s fringe players leave this summer to raise funds which will be reinvested in strengthening his squad.
Smith Rowe has fallen further down the pecking order at the Emirates and has struggled for game time after dropping out of the starting XI.
Sources previously told Football Insider that the club will entertain “big offers” for the 23-year-old in a bid to increase their transfer war chest.
Arsenal to entertain bids for Emile Smith Rowe amid Fulham interest
Smith Rowe joined Arsenal aged ten and signed his first professional deal in 2017, making his first-team debut in 2018 and going on to make 115 appearances for the club.
His breakthrough season came in 2021-22 as he made 33 Premier League appearances, scoring ten goals and providing two assists.
However, the following season was marred by injury issues in the wake of groin surgery which saw him miss 21 games between September 2022 and January 2023.
Those injury issues took time to fade, during which Arsenal had become established towards the top of the table and he struggled to break back into the team.
Last time out, he made just 19 appearances across all competitions, and 15 of those came from the bench as he found opportunities hard to come by.
Arteta is now prepared to let him leave for good in a bid to bring in more funds.
Smith Rowe is keen to remain at his boyhood club to fight for a place, but should it become apparent that there is no room for him in the side, a move could materialise.
Fulham continue to monitor his situation with a bid in mind, while Crystal Palace have also been tracking his progress as they look to improve their squad.
In other news, Tommy Setford is set to undergo a medical ahead of a move from Ajax.
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