Arsenal are prepared to sell Emile Smith Rowe this week after receiving an approach from London rivals Chelsea.
Emile Smith Rowe has been offered to other Premier League clubs as Chelsea attempt to sign the Arsenal playmaker.
That is according to a report from The Times, who claim that Arsenal are now willing to let Smith Rowe leave this week.
It’s stated that an approach has come in from Chelsea as they seek to raid Arsenal in the final days of the transfer window.
Arsenal are keen to recoup cash after a summer of spending and Smith Rowe could follow Folarin Balogun out of the club.
Both Smith Rowe and Balogun represent pure profit from a Financial Fair Play perspective having come up in the Hale End ranks.
Arsenal may reluctantly decide that this is the time to let Smith Rowe leave despite his popularity with supporters.
The report even claims that Smith Rowe has been offered to other Premier League clubs too.
It’s unclear whether that’s by Arsenal or by Smith Rowe’s representatives but Chelsea may yet face a battle for his signature.
The report also adds that Mikel Arteta has been ‘unhappy’ about Smith Rowe’s fitness problems of late and that may contribute to his potential exit.
Arteta is very demanding and if Smith Rowe isn’t quite meeting his standards then he could leave – even if it means selling him to Chelsea.
You couldn’t blame Emile Smith Rowe for eyeing Arsenal exit
The notion of Arsenal selling Smith Rowe would have been crazy even 18 months to a year ago.
Smith Rowe had emerged as a real star for Arsenal with his driving ability on the ball making him and Bukayo Saka stars.
Jamie Carragher hailed Smith Rowe as ‘special’ back in the 2021-22 season and it looked like the sky could be the limit.
Instead, Smith Rowe has struggled for fitness and has been gradually fading out of Mikel Arteta’s plans.
The 23-year-old didn’t start a single Premier League game last season and hasn’t featured at all in the league this term.
Fabio Vieira came in last summer whilst Mikel Arteta has now decided to splash the cash on Kai Havertz, retraining him for Smith Rowe’s role.
That will surely sting for Smith Rowe and whilst he loves Arsenal, he can’t afford another season of being stuck on the sidelines.
Whether it’s Chelsea or another club, Smith Rowe may well believe that he needs to leave in order to get his career back on track.
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