Emile Smith Rowe continues to be linked with a move away from Arsenal this summer. The Gunners have reportedly rejected a £30million bid from Fulham for their academy graduate, who struggled with form and injury last season.
Smith Rowe made just 19 appearances for the Gunners across all competitions last term, failing to score and providing just two assists. And with uncertainty over the 23-year-old’s future, Arsenal may have an added incentive to sell the attacking midfielder.
All top-flight clubs in English football must be wary of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR). Current PSR rules state that clubs cannot lose more than £105million over three seasons, with Everton and Nottingham Forest previously handed points deductions for breaching the regulations.
Selling Smith Rowe would boost the Gunners’ PSR position as he would represent pure profit due to his homegrown status. But a hint may have been dropped by Mikel Arteta on Saturday over where he sees Smith Rowe’s future.
Arteta handed Smith Rowe the captain’s armband for the final 30 minutes of Arsenal’s pre-season friendly win against Leyton Orient. And the young star was on the scoresheet alongside Gabriel Jesus, with both players netting either side of half-time at the club’s Sobha Realty Training Centre.
Arteta’s squad will now head to the USA for friendlies against Bournemouth, Manchester United and Liverpool as part of their pre-season tour. The Gunners boss has previously shown his admiration for Smith Rowe.
Speaking after handing him a start against Luton Town in April, he said: “I was really impressed with him. He has been training really well and we felt the game could suit us.
“I love him as a player, it is a joy to watch how he moves and how he changes direction. He was physical today without the ball, he wanted to make things happen. It was difficult to stop him and he helped us a lot to win the game.”
