West Ham United in for Emile Smith Rowe as Arsenal name transfer price
Arsenal have placed a £35million price tag on Emile Smith Rowe amid interest from West Ham United, according to HITC.
The online source reported [16 July] that Crystal Palace and Fulham have seen bids rejected by the Gunners already this summer, with the Hammers, Wolves, Leicester City and Nottingham Forest also interested.
It is understood that Premier League rivals Arsenal are holding out for £35m plus add-ons if they are to allow the 23-year-old to leave this summer, with the player seeking regular minutes on the pitch.
West Ham United to splash £35m on Emile Smith Rowe transfer?
One of the biggest concerns around splashing such a sizeable fee on Smith Rowe would be the player’s recent injury record, having been sidelined for a large part of the 2023/24 campaign.
The midfielder has only made three Premier League starts across the last two seasons but has proven himself on several occasions, making 115 senior appearances since graduating from the club’s academy.
With 18 goals and 13 assists across those 115 matches, the 23-year-old could be an incredible coup for Julen Lopetegui and the Hammers this summer, forming a midfield partnership with Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse.
As previously stated, however, the injury record is not something that can be ignored by the club if they are to make a move for the Arsenal player.
He may feel he has a point to prove if he is to leave Emirates Stadium this summer, but Lopetegui will need to manage his minutes on the pitch until he reaches full match sharpness after a long time away from the pitch.
Despite his setbacks, Smith Rowe is still a full England international, having been called up to the Three Lions squad in 2021 and 2022, when he made three appearances and scored once.
It is certainly a signing that would excite most fans, given his experience with the Gunners over the years, and his exit looks almost certain this summer.
In other West Ham news, the Hammers are still in the Jonathan Tah transfer race following a Manchester United update.
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