Sources: Arsenal hint at Smith Rowe U-turn as new Aston Villa offer is submitted
Aston Villa are submitting a third bid for Emile Smith Rowe after Arsenal hinted they will sell at the right price, Football Insider has learned.
The London giants have knocked back two offers worth £25million and £30m for their academy product.
Tellingly, a Villa source has told Football Insider that Arsenal have not given a definitive 'no' to their Premier League rivals' pursuit of Smith Rowe.
That has given the big spending Midlands outfit encouragement a deal can be done before the window shuts.
Villa are returning to the negotiating table with a third bid for Smith Rowe that will be close to the club-record fee paid to Norwich City for Emiliano Buendia last month.
Dean Smith's side paid a club-record fee of £33m rising to £38m including add-ons for the Argentine.
The pursuit of Smith Rowe is not yet at the advanced stage, and Arsenal are in talks with the young Englishman over a new deal.He is out of contract in 2023 and Villa are keen to exploit the uncertainty over his future.
Smith-Rowe made 37 appearances for Arsenal in all competitions last season.
He scored seven goals and supplied eight assists as he proved to be one of the few bright sparks in a disappointing season for Arsenal.
The midfielder has previously spent time on loan at RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town.
Should Villa be unable to lure Smith Rowe from Arsenal, they are likely to turn their attention to an alternative attacker.
As first revealed by Football Insider on 29th April, Burnley's Dwight McNeil is among the top targets for the Midlands club.