Arsenal will not consider any loan offers for Emile Smith Rowe this summer that include an option to buy as they mull their future plans for the highly-talented youngster.
Smith Rowe is currently on loan at Bundesliga side RB Leipzig, who want to bring him back next season, but has found his opportunities limited by a groin injury which he first picked up last year whilst with Arsenal.
Even though Smith Rowe made his Leipzig debut as a substitute in a 2-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg on April 13 he still has some way to go to rebuild his fitness after a frustrating injury that niggled away at him for longer than either he, Leipzig or Arsenal initially expected.
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However Smith Rowe's attitude and performances in training have impressed the German side sufficiently that they want him to return to the club next season, though they are not the only suitors, with Premier League sides known to have expressed an interest to Arsenal before the January transfer window.
Arsenal could also opt to integrate Smith Rowe into Unai Emery's first team next season, particularly with the departure of Aaron Ramsey to Juventus and the return of Denis Suarez to Barcelona after his wasted loan spell in north London set to open space in the squad in the advanced midfield areas in which the 18-year-old thrives.
Head coach Emery is a great admirer of Smith Rowe and played him in four of Arsenal's six Europa League group stage games this season. The youngster scored in wins over Qarabag and Vorskla Poltava.
Though no definitive decision has been made over where Smith Rowe will play his football next season football.london understands that Arsenal would not even consider agreeing to a loan move for the playmaker that included any option to purchase the youngster.
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Indeed RB Leipzig are sufficiently aware of Arsenal's insistence on retaining Smith Rowe that they are considered highly unlikely to propose such a move to the Gunners.
For his part Smith Rowe has relished life in Germany, where the likes of Jadon Sancho and Reiss Nelson are already thriving, and settled swiftly into life in Leipzig whilst he was waiting for his injury issues to clear.
Though he would not be adverse to remaining with RB Leipzig, who will be managed by Hoffenheim head coach Julian Nagelsmann next season, Smith Rowe is expected to also be of interest to Premier League sides.
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