Villa learn final outcome amid ‘growing confidence’ over Emile Smith Rowe

Emile Smith Rowe, Arsenal training top

Aston Villa’s bid to prise Emile Smith Rowe away from Arsenal is destined to fail with the midfielder close to signing a bumper new five-year deal with the Gunners.

The Villans has long been linked with a move for the 20-year-old playmaker. They have already made two bids with a third reportedly on the way as Dean Smith refuses to give up on his target. Indeed, that third offer is said to be ‘close to’ Villa’s club-record fee of £33m paid for Emiliano Buendia.

However, it seems Smith and Villa now face disappointment with the player seeing his future at Arsenal.

The midfielder has been back in first-team training this week and talks over a new deal have resumed. As per the Birmingham Mail, those talks have progressed well and there are now just a few small details to iron out.

And it seems those issues won’t be difficult to resolve with there now a ‘growing confidence’ the 20-year-old will commit.

That will see Smith Rowe tied to Emirates Stadium until summer 2026, ending Villa’s efforts to persuade Arsenal to sell.

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Smith Rowe’s current deal was due to expire in 2023 and Arsenal were keen to extend that in reflection of his progress.

The delay in reaching an agreement seemingly gave Villa a transfer sniff. But those will end for good once the deal is signed.

Villa could target Dwight McNeil next

Smith, however, remains determined to add another creative spark to his midfield.

With Buendia adding to Jack Grealish, Anwar El Ghazi and Bertrand Traore, Smith is still hoping to add one more.

In light of their failure to land Smith Rowe, it’s believed Villa will instead turn to Burnley’s Dwight McNeil.

The Clarets though are also likely to demand a fee of around £40m for McNeil. His deal at Turf Moor runs until 2024 so they are in no hurry to sell the England U21 star.

The Birmingham Mail, however, claims their interest in Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse has since cooled.

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