Football
Chelsea ‘target Arsenal star, Emile Smith Rowe
Chelsea are eyeing up a shock move for Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe as Mauricio Pochettino looks to add another forward-thinking player to his squad.
The Blues have lost both Christopher Nkunku and Carney Chukwuemeka to injury already this campaign and are looking to sign a versatile attacker who can cover multiple different positions after missing out on Michael Olise and Mohammed Kudus.
As a result, Chelsea are considering making a push to sign Smith Rowe before Deadline Day on 1 September. Furthermore, Barcelona pair Raphinha and Ferran Torres are also of interest and the west London clubs could approach the Blaugrana before the window shuts.
That is according to The Daily Mail, who have reported that Chelsea want to strengthen in attack and have sounded out Smith Rowe, Raphinha and Torres as potential options.
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The report states that talks are not advanced yet and discussions regarding the trio remain in the early stages as Chelsea’s hierarchy consider a late move.
Raphinha was, of course, heavily linked with a move to Chelsea before he joined Barcelona in 2022 and the Blues even agreed a fee with Leeds United, but the player wanted to move to Camp Nou.
The Brazil international was sent off in Barcelona’s 0-0 draw against Getafe in the opening round of fixtures in the 2023-24 season and has been replaced in the starting XI by 16-year-old wonderkid Lamine Yamal.
As for Torres, only 43 of his 73 appearances since moving to Barcelona from Manchester City for €55m have been as a starter. He has, however, scored two goals in just two appearances this season.
Chelsea are interested in signing Arsenal man Smith Rowe, who has fallen even further down the pecking order at the club this summer thanks to the arrival of Kai Havertz.
The England U21 star has not yet featured this campaign, while he tallied zero starts and only 161 minutes of action in the Premier League last season despite being in the match day squad on 23 occasions.