West Ham United must go for Emile Smith Rowe in Declan Rice sale after Arsenal transfer update
West Ham United potentially want Arsenal to include Emile Smith Rowe in any deal to sign Declan Rice this summer, and should they lower their price demands, this is a route that must be explored.
The Hammers captain’s time at the London Stadium appears to be at its end beyond the summer with the East Londoners now resigned to losing him and Arsenal emerging as frontrunners for his signature.
Manchester United, Chelsea and Thomas Tuchel’s Bayern Munich have all emerged as strong potential suitors for England international this summer, with West Ham majority owner David Sullivan valuing him at £100m-plus for his services [Daily Mail, 8 June].
According to a report in The Telegraph [8 June], Arsenal have moved a step closer to completing a £92m deal for the England star, with West Ham United identifying potential targets to utilise the transfer fee on.
However, according to 90Min [10 June], West Ham United believe the midfielder could end up commanding a higher fee if a bidding war can be sparked as Arsenal are wary of paying £100m-plus and instead value Rice at closer to £90m, and the Gunners would be looking to strike a deal that would see them pay an initial £80m with add-ons to take the price higher.
It is unclear whether the Gunners will succumb to West Ham’s demands given their desperate attempts to secure Rice’s signature before pre-season begins next month.
The England international’s desire to seek pastures new may force the Hammers to change their stance in lowering their £100m price tag, however.
And should that occur, a potential swap deal opportunity has emerged to ensure West Ham United get the most benefit from any inevitable Rice departure.
According to The Sun [9 June] David Moyes – who is now confirmed to be staying at the London Stadium next season – wants the north London club to include three-cap England international Smith Rowe in the deal, as he is a huge fan of the Hale End academy product.
The 22-year-old sensation fully broke into the Arsenal setup during the 2021/22 campaign where he notched an impressive 10 Premier League goals and two assists from 33 games marking him as one of the country’s biggest midfield talents alongside his counterpart Bukayo Saka.
However, last season proved a rather difficult and frustrating one for him as he struggled with a number of injuries and failed to get the opportunities in the team when fit, with Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard all shining during their surprise title run-in.
With Mikel Arteta intent on keeping him at the Emirates for next season, it is unclear whether Smith-Rowe will be allowed the starts his talents crave, and for that reason, West Ham United should certainly explore a possible makeweight in the Rice sale.
With Moyes and West Ham United wanting to bolster their wide options this summer, Smith-Rowe could prove to be an excellent addition and transfer masterstroke, even if the Hammers manage to get him in on a loan deal as part of the package.
Crucially, the 22-year-old would need to consider his own immediate future and a platform like the London Stadium may be too tempting to turn down, taking a similar route to the one Jesse Lingard thrived in during the 2020/21 Premier League campaign.
Smith-Rowe can force himself back into the England international picture as well as the chance to reignite his faltering career trajectory. It is a potential win-win for all parties involved. If the chance arises, West Ham United would be foolish not to explore it.