Arsenal close to writing Emile Smith-Rowe off the books
According to the Guardian, Arsenal are nearing the letting go of Emile Smith-Rowe from the Emirates this summer to another London side in what could turn out to be a beneficial move.
Apparently Fulham are lining up a £35 million deal for the midfielder who has seen little game time for the Gunners due to injury and also being out muscled by the likes of captain Martin Odegaard in the middle of the park in the past couple of years.
If the deal breaks through the 23 year old will be going for a higher valued fee than the one given on Transfer Market of only £22 million which the youngster is surely worth more than.
Despite struggling to regain his place in Mikel Arteta’s side Smith Rowe played in 19 games last season in all tournaments popping up with two assists in the Premiership in only 346 minutes of top flight action.
During The Gunners 2021/22 season Smith-Rowe was a beacon of light as an academy graduate enduring nearly 2,000 minutes of Premier League game time and 33 matches too in which he scored ten times with two assists to his name.
Since then the injury struck soldier has failed to cement his position in perhaps the best Arsenal team since the 2003/04 Invincible’s team.
Despite being plagued by injury in recent times the Englishman is still regarded as one of the most promising youngsters in the Premiership who could certainly benefit a mid-table side like Fulham who seem to be lacking the cash to spill out on top players. And I would think that if he can stay fit he would play just about every game next season
The once u-17 World Cup hero with England has certainly had some memorable years at Arsenal for the better and worse. However if he transfers to Fulham he could become a future role model at the club and stamp a greater authority in a side who experienced only four players competing at Euro 2024 this summer.
Liam Harding
Do you want to read our whole collection of history articles? Check out our Just Arsenal History section
CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, please contact us through this link…
100% a good deal in my opinion. Arsenal should take the money if offered.
A big problem Arsenal has in the transfer (selling) market is that they overprice their players which is one reason why, surprise, surprise, they don’t sell many.
Take Eddie for example. He apparently managed four full 90-minute appearances throughout 2023-24 yet Arsenal is reported to want over £40m for him. It’s the same with Ramsdale – clearly our second-choice keeper in 2023-24 but with a first-choice price tag of, what, £50m. So far, no clubs are interested in paying those fees. I wonder why? If Arsenal need to bring in money from sales (and they certainly do) better to have somewhat less than none at all.
If Fulham offer the reported fee for ESR, Edu should drive him around there himself to get the contract signed.
In today’s market I think it’s pretty low ,but obviously he’s had his troubles which again weakens our negotiating with the buying club .
I like Fulham and hope he does well there .
I think it depends what else is included in the deal. First refusal on a buy back or a sell on fee clause could be more beneficial than say 10 15 million pounds more on the initial fee.
Can’t see anybody having much reason to be unhappy about this proposal.
If we do not take that offer then his price could plummet next season if he picks up another injury.
Great business for both parties.
Like ESR but think he needs a new challenge.
35 million a fair price
Remember when I was mocked for saying in Feb Arteta didn’t trust him anymore ?
And whats youre point? Hes going Fulham not bayern or madrid pal
That’s exactly my point
No, of course we don’t remember a comment from you 5 months ago. You ain’t that important, sorry to break it to you. Besides, loads of people said the exact same thing.
Exactly. Plus Dan hurls so many negative opinions that some of them are bound to stick
Quite a few stick lol
That’s why peeps get angry with me
So you do remember? Lol
He’s injury-prone, so it would be a good deal for Arsenal
We sold Willock at a similar price and he mostly stayed on Newcastle’s bench
Odegaard, Rice, Havertz and Merino would likely play AM ahead of Smith-Rowe, so moving to another club would give him a better chance to fix his career
Even though I like ESR I have to admit I wouldn’t want to see him score in 7 matches in a row as he did with Newcastle. imo, it is an appropriate valuation for ESR and an equitable deal for all parties assuming he doesn’t take a wage cut below his current £40,000/wk.
“he” being Willock of course
Yes, Smith-Rowe’s shots were generally accurate
Gai, a report says Arsenal are considering Merino country mate Fabian Ruiz Incase he is expensive. I think any of the players would bench ESR. They played really well in Euro with the coach prefering FRuiz to start in all Spain Matches. I love ESR but he need to move for the purpose of his career.
I bet Arsenal will choose Merino because his contract will expire next year, whereas Ruiz’s will only expire in 2027 which will make Ruiz way more expensive
He was actually unlucky last season. His injuries wee not terrible bit He picked up one at the wrong time in the autumn when he may have got a few cup games, by the time he returned we were out of both domestic cups and he was barely getting a look in for the premier league or champions league. The few occasions we did see him he was very good.
Although the bright side was that he did not get many chances to pick up another injury.
This one could leave eggs on the gaffer’s face.
I’m presuming is 35m with add ons…any one know the actual amount before add ons
27million plus 8 mill addons ,like I said above Fulham got themselves a bargain
Yes, we hope he succeeds but not against us. Fulham gives ESR the opportunity to find his feet and get regular game time. Injury aside there were thinks ESR could do much better than Harvetz, the incompetent Vieira or even slow legs Jorghino. My scenario is that he will do well at the Cottage and then in two years time will be open to a transfer at one of the bigger clubs. Just saying.
Happy for ESR, don’t waste your career with Arteta or at Arsenal.
Fan of whom exactly HK?
I for one would be pretty gutted if this one happens, purely for selfish reasons.
The boy has pure talent, unfortunately injury has taken that away from him in the last 2 years as a Gooner.
Everyone is raving about Cole Palmer, but when I have seen ESR play without any niggles he looked like prime Scholes with legs and pisses all over the golden English boys for pure talent, and as much as I love him… I include Marasaka.
Absolute shame that it won’t happen in an Arsenal shirt but as the article says… it is better for all parties that he moves on for the sake of his career. Hopefully we have a buy back clause because I have a feeling this one might come back and bite us on the Arse.
He will be a permanent in my fantasy team for sure, with regular game time he is a fantastic player.
Could be a great option at that price although there seem to be a lot of players who could potentially do well in that range.
Hudson-Odoi 5.5/Elanga 5.5 (Either forest player could have a breakout season and had good stats last year)
Kamada 5.5 (Olise replacement at Palace)
Semenyo 5.5 (Reclassified as midfielder could be interesting)
Sarabia 5.5 (Good option if nailed and Wolves do well was a good option last year at times)
Minteh 5.5/Adingra 5.5/Encisco 5.5/Bounanotte 5/Cozier-Dubbery 4.5 (A lot of Brighton options that could turn out to be in form/nailed and thus great picks)
Elliot 5.5 (If he gets a move or Slot fancies him)
Harrison 5.5 (if he kicks on at Everton this year)
Tielemans 5.5 (If he ends up on pens at Villa)
Fatawu 5.5 (If Leicester isn’t terrible he’s a very interesting attacking threat)
Morgan 5 (Potential very attacking starter for Villa)
Amad 5 (If nailed at RW for United)
Caicedo 5/Chukwuemeka 5 (if either nails the box to box role in Maresca’s system.)
Bobb 5 (If he gets a move from City)
Gray 5/ Bergvall 4.5 (If either nails a spot in the Spurs team)
McTomminay 5 (If he gets a move)
Sinisterra 5 (An interesting option at Bournemouth)
In the safer minutes/output range you have:
Pereira 5.5 (Same club as ESR on pens and will get assists)
Mcneil 5.5 (Not fancy but steady output for Everton)
Mcginn 5.5 (Potential to rack up points for Villa)
Soucek 5.5 (If nailed always carries a goal threat)
Don’t dislike ESR at all and was originally going to include him no matter what but there are a lot of players in that range who could outdo him and imagine he is going to be one of the most popular picks in that range due to his rep.
Omari Hutchinson who is 3 years younger went for 22 million of which 4 million went to us via a sell-on clause. So 35 mil seems reasonable.
None of the independent valuation sites rate ESR above 15 mil.
Cole Palmer who was a top talent at City who they wanted to keep for the 1st team but he wanted 1st team minutes and also was younger went for 40 mil last year which many thought was too much at the time.
Hudson-Odoi went for 2 mil last year as well.
Every time we see deals like this people complain about the fee yet no one ever shows examples of similar players going for more or explains why other bigger clubs aren’t in the mix if it’s such a mistake. See Biereth or Balogun etc. It’s Fulham who are in for him, not Madrid, not Liverpool etc. Villa notably dropped their previous interest in him since they kicked on for instance.
Happy all around we got a great fee (Like Biereth before him it will be a club record fee for the signing club) and he gets 1st team football and a chance to kick on. If he stays fit he will be a success I think. Win/win
Keep ESR and sell Nketia
Not for Emile! would have been better of at a better project such as teams like Villa or Chelsea or better still teams outside England if indeed he’d be sold with Emile’s interest at heart rather than money. I hope the negotiations fall apart though, cos i’m having non of this! Fulham? Oh please spare me.
And how could Emile himself agree to join such teams despite interest from better clubs? There’s only one true winner here if the transfer indeed goes through and it’s Arsenal. Emile’s best interest has NOT been considered!
Which better clubs are actually in for ESR now ?