One Arsenal player is attracting interest from Serie A side Napoli as they prepare to announce Antonio Conte as their new manager.
The Italian knows the Gunners really well having faced Mikel Arteta’s side during his time as Tottenham Hotspur’s head coach.
One player seems to have caught his eye, and he is now looking to sign him for Napoli this summer.
Napoli want to sign Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal
Emile Smith Rowe’s Arsenal future is up in the air.
The Englishman is a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium. He receives a lot of love every time he steps on the pitch and rightly so, having come through the academy.
Smith Rowe seemed like Arsenal’s future just a couple of years ago, but injuries cost him most of the 2022/23 season and he didn’t have many opportunities in the following campaign either.
As Arsenal look to strengthen their squad in multiple areas of the pitch, reports have claimed that Smith Rowe has been put on the chopping block.
Talks will take place between Arsenal and the player about his future, but Smith Rowe is said to want to stay in the Premier League if he does leave the Gunners.
That could be a blow for Napoli, who according to Corriere dello Sport (June 1 2024, page 9), are interested in signing Smith Rowe this summer.
Conte is set to be announced as the new manager of the Partenopei (Fabrizio Romano on X), and his club reportedly appreciate Smith Rowe’s talent and are aware of a transfer opportunity.
Arsenal wanted £60 million for Smith Rowe ahead of the January transfer window. It will be interesting to see how much they will demand for him this summer.
READ MORE: Fabrizio Romano shares what he has been told about the future of Emile Smith Rowe at Arsenal
Arsenal could pull off an incredible swap deal
Napoli’s interest in Smith Rowe really is a surprise.
Arsenal fans are all aware that the Hale End graduate could leave the club, and almost everybody believes he’ll join another side in the Premier League.
A move to Napoli seems a bit unrealistic, but if Smith Rowe can be convinced to go to Italy, perhaps Napoli could be persuaded to swap him for Victor Osimhen.
Smith Rowe plus cash for Osimhen would be an unbelievable bit of business from Arsenal and it could well be Edu’s best move as the Gunners’ sporting director if he could pull it off.
However, it will not be easy, especially as Smith Rowe himself wants to stay in England.