Sources claim West Ham wanted to sign Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe before the summer deadline and will try again as he considers leaving.
The £105m transfer for Declan Rice was not the only deal being mooted between West Ham and Arsenal during the summer window.
Three days before the summer window closed, Football Insider claimed Arsenal ace Emile Smith Rowe was a target for the Hammers.
In the end the move failed to materialise after West Ham signed midfield trio Mohammed Kudus, Edson Alvarez and James Ward-Prowse for a combined £102m using the bulk of the Rice money from Arsenal.
Sources claim West Ham wanted to sign Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe before deadline and will try again as he considers leaving
Gunners fan favourite Smith Rowe has started just one game for Arsenal in all competitions this season.
Now sources claim West Ham wanted to sign Arsenal star Smith Rowe before deadline and will try again as he considers leaving.
According to ‘sources’ speaking to Football Insider, Smith Rowe is ‘weighing up his options’ ahead of the January transfer window.
And it is claimed West Ham – whose star midfielder Lucas Paqueta faces an uncertain long-term future after he came close to joining Man City – remain very much interested.
‘It is believed both club and player could agree the time is right to move on’
“A deal for Smith Rowe failed to materialise and he remains an Arsenal player until January – when the door could now open for interested sides such as West Ham,” the report states.
“It is believed both club and player could agree the time is right to move on if more signings arrive in the coming windows.
“During the summer window, sources said the Gunners could accept a £35-40million offer for the England international – who has three years left on his contract…
“Arsenal are considering making further signings in the January window, which would only push the right-footer further down the pecking order at the Emirates Stadium.”
Any Hammers move for Smith Rowe surely hinges on Paqueta’s long-term future
It is difficult to see how Smith Rowe would get more game time at West Ham than he would at Arsenal. Certainly in his more favoured central position.
But much will clearly hinge on Paqueta’s situation. The Brazil ace is facing serious allegations over his involvement in illegal betting – which he vehemently denies.
That saw an £85m move to Man City collapse and may explain why West Ham did not push ahead with their own reported interest in Smith Rowe at the end of August.
If Paqueta is cleared then it is expected Man City will renew their interest. If found guilty then the West Ham talisman could face a lengthy ban. So in either scenario, a replacement would be needed.
Depending on the outcome of Paqueta’s situation, it could well be – if these sources are to be believed – that 23-year-old Smith Rowe is the man the Hammers have in mind as a replacement.
READ ALSO
Fans are saying the same thing about Kudus after seeing West Ham team photo.
One word from Spurs has put West Ham plan to sign red hot star in jeopardy.
Moyes’ shock announcement about West Ham star can mean only one thing.
Receive a digest of our best West Ham content each week direct to your mailbox
