Rumours of RB Leipzig putting an option to buy in Emile Smith Rowe’s loan contract are ‘not true’, according to reports.

On Thursday morning, Smith Rowe underwent a medical in Germany, ahead of his loan move to RB Leipzig.

After Ademola Lookman’s successful loan last year, Leipzig wanted to keep him, but without an option to buy in his contract they failed to do so. As a result, James Olley reported that this time around, with Smith Rowe, they wanted to insert a purchase clause.

However, Charles Watts of Football.London then reported that his sources informed him the rumour isn’t true. The loan was simply ‘about getting him playing time’ and nothing more. The BBC’s David Ornstein then confirmed there would be no option to buy in the deal.

Even if Leipzig did try adding an option to buy into the deal, it seems unlikely Smith Rowe himself would be keen on the idea. The 18-year-old is a boyhood Arsenal fan just breaking onto the senior team, you’d think he’d have some self-belief in his capacity to succeed in North London.

A couple of years ago, the likes of Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona came calling for the youngster. He turned them all down, as he wanted to live his dream of playing for Arsenal.

Given the success the midfielder was having before his injury, with three goals in six senior appearances, it doesn’t seem like the right time to give up on that dream.