West Ham United could reportedly return with an approach for Emile Smith Rowe in January as they retain an interest in the 23-year-old playmaker.
According to Football Insider, West Ham United maintain an interest in Arsenal outcast Emile Smith Rowe after a difficult start to his season and could make a concrete move if he becomes available in the upcoming January transfer window.
Smith Rowe struggled to make an impression in Arsenal’s Premier League title push last season. He was restricted to just 14 appearances and two assists in all competitions due to undergoing groin surgery and a fierce battle for starting places under Mikel Arteta.
The Spaniard ended up using a midfield trio of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka, and Martin Odegaard in the majority of games, while also selecting Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Gabriel Martinelli out wide. This left no room for Smith Rowe.
The 23-year-old’s struggles have continued in the new campaign, as he has only managed 115 minutes of action across five appearances in the 2023/24 campaign so far. What’s more, the report adds that the Gunners are “considering making further signings” in the winter market, which “would only push Smith Rowe further down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium.”
Arsenal are willing to sell Smith Rowe, who has three years left on his contract, in the January transfer window and “could accept a £35-40 million offer.” West Ham’s interest in the 23-year-old playmaker comes as no surprise to those who follow the Premier League’s intricate transfer rumour mill. The Irons and Chelsea both expressed interest in a late-window move for the England international’s signature in August.
Arsenal seemed to have cold feet when it came to letting go of Smith Rowe. And as a result, a transfer away did not come to fruition. He is still wearing the Arsenal colours for now, but the window of opportunity might swing open in January, potentially paving the way for suitors such as West Ham to make a move.
The Hammers have made a strong start to the season off the back of bolstering David Moyes’s squad with the summer signings of Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez, James Ward-Prowse, and Konstantinos Mavropanos after the sales of Declan Rice, Gianluca Scamacca, Nikola Vlasic, and Arthur Masuaku. But they could continue to add quality in midfield and attack in January.
Smith Rowe could potentially be a game-changing signing for West Ham. The 23-year-old is quite obviously an elite talent. He has exceptional technique, has pace and power to burn when running with the ball, and has a real eye for goal. This is certainly one to keep an eye on in the upcoming transfer window.
