RB Leipzig CEO Oliver Mintzlaff has admitted the Bundesliga club attempted to sign Arsenal youngster Emile Smith Rowe on a permanent deal before eventually sealing a loan move.
Smith Rowe joined Leipzig on deadline day after being scouted by the Germans for “a long time”, according to Mintzlaff.
Will Smith Rowe succeed in Germany? Five key things to know…
- Smith Rowe is the latest young English player to swap the Premier League for the Bundesliga, albeit on a temporary basis.
- The likes of Jadon Sancho have enjoyed great success in Germany; Sancho has scored six goals in 20 Bundesliga games so far this season.
- Everton winger Ademola Lookman spent the second half of last season on loan at Leipzig, where he scored five times in 11 league appearances.
- All signs point towards the Bundesliga, and Leipzig specifically, being a good place for Smith Rowe to continue his development.
- The 18-year-old scored three goals in six matches for Arsenal this term before leaving last month.
Smith Rowe joins another Arsenal teenager, 19-year-old Reiss Nelson, in the Bundesliga – Nelson is currently on loan at Hoffenheim.
And Mintzlaff has revealed Smith Rowe would have left Arsenal permanently if Leipzig had their way.
“We have a clear philosophy, we want to go long term with young and talented people,” Mintzlaff said, as reported by Sport.de.
“Emile has been scouted for a long time and we would certainly like to have bought him, but that was out of the question right now.”
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Does Smith Rowe have an Arsenal future?
The fact Arsenal would not let Smith Rowe join Leipzig on a permanent basis suggests the Gunners see a future for the teenager at the Emirates.
Smith Rowe scored two goals in four Europa League appearances for Arsenal in the first half of the season, and added another goal across his two League Cup appearances.
The England Under-19 international, who has mostly played as attacking midfielder on the left in his short career, will be aiming to improve in Germany with a view to breaking into Arsenal’s first team upon his return.
He could make his Leipzig debut against Wolfsburg in the DFB Cup on Wednesday.
Host Jake Entwistle is joined by Sam Long and Will Hall for this week’s Squawka Talker to discuss Man City 3-1 Arsenal, the Bundesliga title race, Gonzalo Higuain’s start to life at Chelsea, the best of the rest beyond the ‘Big Six’ and the upcoming El Clasico.
The post RB Leipzig wanted to buy Smith Rowe, reveals club CEO appeared first on Squawka News.
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