'.

Ornstein: Arsenal favourite close to record £35m move

Arsenal‘s academy graduate and fan favourite, Emile Smith Rowe, is reportedly on the brink of a club-record £35 million transfer to Fulham.

The deal, if finalised, would match Arsenal’s biggest sale and mark a significant milestone for the 23-year-old midfielder.

Arsenal's English midfielder #10 Emile Smith Rowe (R) controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Luton Town at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 3, 2024. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s English midfielder #10 Emile Smith Rowe (R) controls the ball during the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Luton Town at the Emirates Stadium in London on April 3, 2024. (Photo by ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)

According to David Ornstein, talks between the two Premier League clubs are in advanced stages, focusing on a transfer fee of up to £35 million. Should the clubs reach an agreement, Smith Rowe will undergo a medical and finalise personal terms before completing the move.

This development comes after Crystal Palace also expressed interest in Smith Rowe, but Fulham appears to have gained the upper hand in securing his services.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, speaking after the recent friendly match against Bournemouth where Smith Rowe remained on the bench, acknowledged ongoing discussions surrounding Smith Rowe’s future, stating, “Yeah, there are things happening in the background at the moment and we decided the best thing to do was to keep him away from the game today.”

BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal in action during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
BRENTFORD, ENGLAND: Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal in action during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Brentford and Arsenal at Gtech Community Stadium on September 27, 2023. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)

Smith Rowe’s potential departure comes after a challenging period for the midfielder. He has struggled with injuries and fierce competition for places in Arsenal‘s attack, limiting him to just three Premier League starts since August 2022. Despite a promising start to his Arsenal career, with 12 goals in 53 top-flight games in 2020-21 and 2021-22, his progress has been hampered by injury setbacks.

The £35 million fee, if agreed upon, would represent a significant profit for Arsenal, as Smith Rowe is a product of their academy. This sale would also equal their previous record sale of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

While the transfer is not yet finalised, the prospect of Smith Rowe leaving Arsenal for Fulham is gaining momentum. If the deal goes through, it will be a significant moment for both clubs and a turning point in the young midfielder’s career.

It will also be a sad day for most Arsenal fans to see Emile leave.

Arsenal’s top 20 record sales

Here is the revised table with the requested columns:

#PlayerAgeSeasonJoined ClubFee
1Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain2417/18Liverpool€38.00m
2Nicolas Anelka2099/00Real Madrid€35.00m
3Alexis Sánchez2917/18Manchester United€34.00m
4Cesc Fàbregas2411/12Barcelona€34.00m
5Robin van Persie2912/13Manchester United€30.70m
6Alex Iwobi2319/20Everton€30.40m
7Folarin Balogun2223/24AS Monaco€30.00m
8Joe Willock2121/22Newcastle United€29.40m
9Marc Overmars2700/01Barcelona€29.30m
10Emmanuel Adebayor2509/10Manchester City€29.00m
11Samir Nasri2411/12Manchester City€27.50m
12Thierry Henry2907/08Barcelona€24.00m
13Theo Walcott2817/18Everton€22.50m
14Patrick Vieira2905/06Juventus€20.00m
15Alex Song2412/13Barcelona€19.00m
16Thomas Vermaelen2814/15Barcelona€19.00m
17Kolo Touré2809/10Manchester City€18.70m
18Wojciech Szczęsny2717/18Juventus€18.40m
19Emiliano Martínez2820/21Aston Villa€17.40m
20Olivier Giroud3117/18Chelsea€17.00m
Related Posts