West Ham and Arsenal are in talks to sign midfielder Emile Smith Rowe on loan this month.

The Gunners had a quiet winter, and the mysterious link with Karim Benzema was severed on Friday morning.

Given the lack of movement, the chances of any new arrivals joining the club before the deadline appear slim right now, but one or two may leave.

Though veteran Cedric Soares and Egypt’s Mohamed Elneny play minor roles on the field, both have been linked to departures.. Mikel Arteta’s team is currently participating in the AFCON.

While Smith Rowe has struggled for minutes again this season, his departure, even if only on loan, would be significant.

West Ham in talks with the Gunners over Emile Smith Rowe’s loan

The Hammers have approached Arsenal about Smith Rowe, and discussions about a possible loan deal are currently underway.

The Hammers are in touch with Arsenal regarding Smith Rowe, and negotiations are presently taking place regarding a potential loan agreement.

Although negotiations are reportedly ongoing, Florian Plettenberg of Sky Germany notes that a loan agreement is currently “very unlikely.”

Despite the 23-year-old’s limited involvement this season, Arsenal is reportedly interested in keeping him for the remainder of the campaign. Smith Rowe has only made one Premier League start for the Gunners.

The creative midfielder still has a lot to offer, whether in north or east London. Despite previous injury struggles and an unfortunate setback in 2023-24, ESR deserves more playing time at Emirates.

While Arteta has frequently complimented the 23-year-old, he does not appear to trust the free spirit outside of possession.

Given his reduced role in the last two seasons, a loan away, even if only for six months, would undoubtedly benefit Smith Rowe, especially if he is earning regular Premier League minutes.

A permanent move, on the other hand, would make little sense for the club at this point unless they intended to bring in someone else before the deadline.