Aston Villa target Smith Rowe to sign new Arsenal deal

Arsenal are in the home stretch of securing Emile Smith Rowe's long-term future amid interest from Aston Villa, reports the London Evening Standard.

The Gunners have rejected bids of £25m and £30m from Villa for the 20-year-old raising doubts about his future at the club.

Smith Rowe was a revelation for Arsenal last season but his current deal has less than two years left to run.

Villa beat Arsenal to the signing of Emiliano Buendia over the summer and wanted to inflict further misery on Mikel Arteta by prising Smith Rowe away from them.

Their pursuit of the England Under-21 international has led ti suspicions Villa are planning for life without captain Jack Grealish.

However, Arsenal appear to have successfully fended off Villa's interest and Smith Rowe is now close to agreeing a new long-term deal.

Despite only making his first league appearance of the campaign on Boxing Day, only Willian (5) ended up with more assists than Smith Rowe (4) of all Arsenal players in the Premier League last season.