Arsenal 'willing to sell Emile Smith Rowe amid Chelsea interest'
The England international was a shining light for Arsenal during the 2021-22 campaign, netting 10 Premier League goals and largely keeping Gabriel Martinelli out of the team.
However, following a serious groin injury and subsequent operation, Smith Rowe has returned to the fringes of Mikel Arteta's squad and did not start a single Premier League game last season.
The 23-year-old is also yet to earn any top-flight minutes in the current campaign, and he was only brought off the bench for the final three minutes of the Community Shield.
Nevertheless, Smith Rowe is held in high regard by Arsenal fans and is under contract at the Emirates for another three years, but Chelsea are thought to be planning a surprise swoop in the final days of the window.
Given their need to raise funds before September 1, The Times reports that Arsenal would consider selling Smith Rowe for the right price, even to a direct Premier League rival.
Furthermore, the Englishman is alleged to be growing frustrated with his lack of game time in North London, and Chelsea are supposedly one of several Premier League clubs to have been offered his services.
Arsenal would still demand at least £40m to let their home-grown product leave, two years after turning down a pair of approaches from Aston Villa, who offered up to £30m.
On the back of his disrupted 2022-23 season, Smith Rowe returned to form during the Under-21 European Championships, scoring two goals and setting up one more as England beat Spain in the final.
Despite starring for the Young Lions, Smith Rowe is still below Fabio Vieira, Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in the
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