Mikel Arteta and Arsenal will allow Emile Smith Rowe to leave this summer if the player pushes for a move and a suitable offer is made, though the manager is keen to keep the player on board.
Smith Rowe has been one of the success stories of Arsenal’s academy, breaking into the England squad and scoring 10 league goals in the 2021-22 season. Since then, though, his opportunities have been more limited.
The midfielder has played just 33 times over the last two seasons, with only four of those being starts. His last appearance for the England senior side came in March 2022, and he wasn’t included in Gareth Southgate’s squad for that year’s World Cup or for the 2024 European Championships.
Arsenal knocked back interest from Aston Villa in 2021, but now there are other clubs keen on a swoop. Fulham have seen one bid rejected, but they – and other clubs – could yet return with an improved offer.
According to The Athletic, Smith Rowe is not at the top of Arteta’s list when it comes to players to sell. Arsenal are expected to have a number of ins and outs this summer, though David Raya – on loan in North London last season – is the only permanent senior arrival.
Riccardo Calafiori is expected to join from Bologna, while the Gunners could yet add further reinforcements in midfield and/or attack. Mikel Merino of Real Sociedad is among those linked, but there could be more to come.
In order to free up funds and space, Arsenal are expected to sanction more exits after selling Mika Biereth to Sturm Graz and loaning out Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares. Lokonga is spending the season at Sevilla, with Tavares at Lazio, and both may well have moved on permanently by this time next year.
Smith Rowe scored for Arsenal in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Leyton Orient, with Gabriel Jesus also netting. He will have a chance to further impress Arteta and convince the manager to keep him on board, having been named in Arsenal’s 26-man-squad for their pre-season tour of the United States.
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He isn’t the only squad member who could end up leaving midway through the tour, though. West Ham target Reiss Nelson is also part of the group, as is Eddie Nketiah amid a push from Marseille to bring the striker to Stade Velodrome.
Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior have also been linked with moves away amid the push for Italy defender Calafiori, though both are in the travelling squad. Kieran Tierney is not, though, as he recovers from the injury he picked up at the Euros.
Arsenal will begin their pre-season tour with a friendly against Bournemouth on Wednesday, followed by two more games Stateside against Manchester United and Liverpool. They then have two games back in the UK before beginning their Premier League campaign against Wolves on August 17.
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