Crystal Palace are reportedly preparing a £30m bid to secure the services of Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe ahead of the 2024-25 Premier League season.
The 23-year-old, a product of Arsenal's Hale End academy, has faced difficulty securing regular playing time under Mikel Arteta in recent seasons.
During the 2023-24 Premier League campaign, Smith Rowe made just 19 appearances, mostly as a substitute, and recorded just two assists for the Gunners in that time.
Fulham made an effort to sign the 23-year-old Englishman earlier this week as Marco Silva seeks to bolster his midfield after Joao Palhinha's exit.
However, the Cottagers were unable to persuade Arsenal to sell the Englishman with their opening bid and have now left the door open for other clubs to join the race.
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Palace preparing offer for Emile Smith Rowe
According to talkSPORT, one of the clubs that are preparing an offer for the 23-year-old is Crystal Palace, who are in the market for a new midfielder following the departure of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich.
The report adds that Palace boss Oliver Glasner is a long-time admirer of the Englishman and is eager to bring the Arsenal star to Selhurst Park this season.
It is understood that while Arsenal are open to the possibility of selling the player this summer, they are not interested in entertaining offers below £35m for the England international.
Along with the London clubs, Aston Villa and Serie A giants Napoli are also believed to be keeping an eye on developments surrounding the midfielder this summer.
While Smith Rowe previously indicated that he has no intention of departing the Emirates Stadium this off-season, it is reported that he is now considering a move away in search of guaranteed playing time.
However, the academy graduate still has two years remaining on his current deal with the Gunners, meaning the club is under no pressure to move him on for less than their valuation.
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Arsenal to step-up summer transfer activity
Smith Rowe joined the Hale End academy at the age of 10 and spent time on loan in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig in 2018-19 before joining Huddersfield on another loan in January 2020.
The Gunners' only confirmed piece of business this summer has been completing the permanent signing of 28-year-old Spanish goalkeeper and reigning Premier League Golden Glove winner David Raya, but the club are expected to step-up their transfer activity with the Euro 2024 and Copa America now complete.
Among the priorities for Arteta is bringing in a new number nine after the current attacking duo of Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah managed just nine goals between them last season.
Palace were believed to have had a longstanding interest in Nketiah, but the success of Jean-Philippe Mateta at the of last season has led to the club prioritising acquisitions in other areas of the pitch.
Arsenal, meanwhile, are reportedly eyeing up moves for Sporting Lisbon attacker Viktor Gyokeres and Euro 2024 star Nico Williams from La Liga outfit Athletic Bilbao.
Devesh Jaganath
