Newcastle United and Aston Villa are front-runners for the signatures of 23-year-old Arsenal attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
According to a report by Football Insider, Newcastle United and Aston Villa are both keen on having Emile Smith Rowe in their ranks. The 23-year-old attacking midfielder is not having the best of times at Arsenal and he could be on the move in the next summer transfer window.
Smith Rowe has come up the ranks at Arsenal, he managed to break into their first team back in 2020. The former England youth international did have a few promising seasons in the initial years but of late things haven’t gone according to plan.
Injuries have kept him on the sidelines for long periods of time and that has resulted in him going down the pecking order under Mikel Arteta. The Arsenal graduate might have featured in 14 matches this term but he has only been on the pitch for 338 minutes.
Competition for Smith Rowe’s signature
The player wants more first-team action and if that is not possible at Arsenal, there are plenty of clubs interested in the 23-year-old’s services. Aston Villa and Newcastle United are leading the race for his services at this stage. They are quite keen on having him in their ranks and will surely make a move if he is made available in the summer.
As per the report, the Gunners are considering the idea of a potential sale. Smith Rowe is an academy product and therefore his sale will be a pure profit for the north London club. It will help them with Financial Fair Play.
Meanwhile, Newcastle United are keen on further bolstering their squad. The Magpies are expected to make multiple signings ahead of next season and Smith Rowe is one of their targets. They feel he could be an important player for them as they look to take the team to the next level.
As far as Aston Villa are concerned, they have a long-standing interest in the 23-year-old. They wanted to sign back in 2021 before he penned down a new deal with the Gunners. They have been monitoring him since and are ready to make a move in the summer. Their boss Unai Emery is a big admirer of the attacking sensation from his days at Arsenal and would love to reunite with him.
