Emile Smith Rowe Set for Move to Fulham After Pre-Season Friendly Absence

Emile Smith Rowe is closing in on a move to Fulham after missing out on Arsenal‘s pre-season friendly against Bournemouth in Los Angeles. The 23-year-old forward was left out intentionally by manager Mikel Arteta, which has fueled speculation about his future at the club.

Negotiations are ongoing, and it’s understood that Fulham is optimistic about wrapping up a deal. They initially had a £30m offer turned down but have now increased their bid to £35m, which includes add-ons. This would make it the highest transfer fee Fulham has ever paid for a player, surpassing the £27m they spent on Jean Michaël Seri in 2018.

Arteta hinted that Smith Rowe might be on his way out after the friendly, where he opted to field a younger lineup. “There are things happening in the background at the moment,” he said. Smith Rowe’s absence from the game, which ended in a 1-1 draw, suggests that a transfer could be imminent.

Since making his debut in 2019, Smith Rowe has amassed 115 appearances and scored 18 goals for Arsenal. However, he has struggled with injuries, playing only 346 minutes in the Premier League last season. Despite his talents, he has slipped down the pecking order at the club.

Fulham aren’t the only club interested in Smith Rowe; Crystal Palace has also shown interest. Nonetheless, with Arsenal’s growing number of new signings, including a player from Bologna for an initial £33.6m, the club is likely shifting focus to other reinforcements.

Arteta praised the young players who participated against Bournemouth, including academy graduates Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, stating, “We have a very different context today with so many young players, most of them making their debuts for us.”

In other transfer news, Fulham is looking to re-sign Ryan Sessegnon, who has been training with Crystal Palace after leaving Tottenham. The left-back was a free agent and had previously been signed by Tottenham for around £25m from Fulham in 2019.