Crystal Palace are set to make an offer to sign Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe, who has already been the subject of a bid from Fulham this summer, according to Fabrizio Romano.
Smith Rowe found himself on the fringes of Mikel Arteta’s squad last season, starting just three Premier League games as the Gunners narrowly missed out on the title. Despite his limited game time, the England international has attracted interest from top-flight clubs, with Fulham having had a bid rejected earlier this summer.
However, Romano has revealed that Palace are another side ready to lodge an offer for the creative midfielder. The South London club, with Oliver Glasner leading the charge, are eager to secure Smith Rowe’s services and believe the player may be open to a move to Selhurst Park.
Palace Competing with Fulham for Smith Rowe
The Englishman has struggled for minutes at the Emirates Stadium.
Developing through Arsenal’s Hale End academy, Smith Rowe burst onto the scene in the 2020/21 season under Arteta, emerging as a crucial creative force for the Gunners during that campaign. The young talent made 33 appearances that year, signed a long-term contract in the summer of 2021, and took the number ten shirt from the departing Mesut Özil.
After an impressive 2021/22 season, where he scored eleven goals in 37 appearances, Smith Rowe has struggled with injuries and subsequently lost his place in Arsenal’s starting eleven. Despite Arteta praising him as “beautiful” to watch, Smith Rowe has been used sparingly over the last two campaigns, limited to just 525 Premier League minutes during this time.
Due to his limited role, Arsenal are open to sanctioning a move for the creative player, who may also be seeking a transfer. Interest from Fulham has been well-documented, but according to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, Crystal Palace has now emerged as another potential destination.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano provided an update on the Smith Rowe situation:
“Smith Rowe, after Fulham’s bid was rejected by Arsenal, now has a bid coming from Crystal Palace. Oliver Glasner wants to bring Emile Smith Rowe to Crystal Palace and believes he would be an important signing for their project. Palace is expected to bid for him.
“Discussions have taken place, and the player could be keen on the move. Let’s see what Arsenal will decide, because he remains an important player for Mikel Arteta.”
| Statistical Comparison (League Only) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Stat | Smith Rowe 21/22 | Eze 23/24 |
| Appearances | 33 | 27 |
| Goals | 10 | 11 |
| Assists | 2 | 4 |
| Shots Per 90 | 1.87 | 3.59 |
| Expected Goals Per 90 | 0.28 | 0.4 |
| Key Passes Per 90 | 1.41 | 2.37 |
| Successful Take-Ons Per 90 | 1.5 | 3.03 |
Emile Smith Rowe could potentially be brought in as a replacement for Eberechi Eze at Crystal Palace.
The Crystal Palace number ten has been rumored to be moving to Arsenal.
Arsenal are reportedly demanding around £40 million for Smith Rowe, who could potentially replace the departing Eberechi Eze. Glasner is eager to build on his promising side from the end of last season but faces the loss of key players, with Michael Olise already joining Bayern Munich and Marc Guehi attracting interest from Manchester United.
Eze might also leave the club, and Smith Rowe has been identified as a potential successor at Selhurst Park. Interestingly, the Gunners are considering a move for the 26-year-old Eze. This mutual interest in each other’s players could facilitate a swap between the two clubs.