Aston Villa transfer news: Arsenal sent Declan Rice and Emile Smith Rowe message

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Gabby Agbonlahor thinks Arsenal could sign Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo by selling Aston Villa transfer target Emile Smith Rowe in the summer.

The former Aston Villa striker thinks Arsenal should be selling the Hale-End academy product for ‘£30-40 million’, as he told talkSPORT (17/05/23 at 8:55 am).

In previous windows, Villa have expressed an interest in the 22-year-old, well, it seems as though they have opened that transfer door once more.

Unai Emery was in the Arsenal dugout when Emile Smith Rowe began his senior career at his boyhood club, but in recent times, he has stagnated, with injuries not helping his cause.

This season, the Englishman only has played 146 minutes of Premier League football and Mikel Arteta has handed him no more than 47 minutes from a single game during these past few months. 

The signs suggest that his future is under threat, as Agbonlahor thinks it’s time for the playmaker to leave, which would open the door for the north London club to secure two signings.

“Smith Rowe, I would be looking at £30 or £40 million,” said Agbonlahor. “He has come back from his injury. He hasn’t played much. You could get a good lump of money from him to go towards new signings. A hard one to let go.

“If you have Smith Rowe, who is worth £30-50 million, or whatever he is worth, but for the last two or three months, they have needed a goal and they haven’t brought him on.

“So, is he in your plan? Can you get a good amount for him that can go towards Caicedo and Declan Rice? You can’t just go out and buy these stars, then not generate money from players you have got.” 

SMITH ROWE WOULD BE A TOP TRANSFER PURCHASE FOR VILLA

A lot of this depends on how Arsenal value the player and whether they want to keep him at the club as they return to the Champions League next season.

If Smith Rowe is getting very little game time now, then that might decrease when more proven stars arrive during the summer transfer window.

But if Villa get the chance to sign him, then his ball-carrying ability and creativity would result in him being a top purchase for the club, although, they shouldn’t go anywhere near the ‘£40 million’ price tag that Agbonlahor is suggesting for his signature.