Football News

Villa continue to plague Arsenal with fresh bid looming for young playmaker

Reports claim Aston Villa will return with an increased offer to try and steal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal this summer.

The West Midlanders have reportedly already made a couple of bids for the 20-year-old forward. It was said they first put forward a deal for £25m and then upped it to £30m when that was rejected. The Gunners also swatted that proposal away before reports emerged that the youngster was set to stay at the Emirates.

Respected transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano stated earlier this week that the player has a ‘verbal agreement’ with Arsenal bosses. And it was reported that he will sign a new deal when he returns from holiday and pre-season training gets under way.

However, there are still rumours that the right fee might prompt the north Londoners to play ball. And, according to The Mirror, the Villans are set to proffer a new amount of £32.5m.

It remain to be seen if that is enough, with the Croydon-born ace thought to be valued at around £50m. That does seem on the high side for a player who only made his first-team breakthrough in 2020-2021.

He went on to make 18 Premier League starts among 20 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side. And he was one shining light in an otherwise underwhelming campaign which ended without European football.

Smith Rowe another Arsenal target for Villa

The Villa Park club managed to snare goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez from the capital giants last summer. It proved to be a superb piece of business, with the Argentine playing every minute of Villa’s league campaign last term.

The Gunners regret letting him go as they continue to search for a new shot-stopper. And Dean Smith also beat them to the signing of Norwich City playmaker Emiliano Buendia this summer.

Also from Argentina, the 24-year-old has been tipped as a player who will excite the fans after his exploits for the Canaries. Villa appear to be Arsenal’s nemesis at the moment.

And the loss of Smith Rowe would further frustrate the club’s fans, who want to see their side strengthened, not depleted. Arteta is under pressure to secure Smith Rowe and bring in top-class signings before the start of next season.

He may do the latter but the Londoner’s days at the club could now be numbered. Villa have shown ambition in transfer market and may well offer more if their current bid is deemed insufficient.

READ MORE: Arsenal switch focus to England man to help keep Leno on his toes

 

 

The post Villa continue to plague Arsenal with fresh bid looming for young playmaker appeared first on TEAMtalk.