---
title: "Smith-Rowe trends as Aston Villa prepare third bid, player ‘blown away’ by interest"
canonical: "https://readastonvilla.com/2021/07/06/emile-smith-rowe-trends-as-aston-villa-prepare-third-bid-blown-away-interest/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Crippy Cooke"
section: "Aston Villa News"
published: "2021-07-06T14:11:37Z"
modified: "2021-07-06T14:11:37Z"
---

# Smith-Rowe trends as Aston Villa prepare third bid, player ‘blown away’ by interest

With Conor Hourihane expected to leave Aston Villa this summer and Marvelous Nakamba’s long-term future being uncertain, Dean Smith is keen to sign another central midfielder.

The Villans boss been linked with Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and Tottenham Hotspur’s Harry [Winks](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/07/01/underwhelming-response-as-aston-villa-are-linked-with-harry-winks/), but he won’t give up on Arsenal’s Emile Smith-Rowe.

Villa had [two bids for the 20-year-old rejected](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/06/28/interest-twitter-aston-villa-have-second-bid-rejected-for-emile-smith-rowe/) and Smith-Rowe was in talks with Arsenal over a new deal, but he’s still yet to put pen to paper on an extension and is [reportedly](https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aston-villa-transfers-jack-grealish-20973084) ‘blown away’ at the interest as a third bid is being prepared.

He’s now trending on [social media](https://twitter.com/search?q=smith-rowe&src=typed_query) and supporters from both clubs have contrasting opinions. Arsenal fans didn’t think they had to worry about losing the 20-year-old, but it looks a possibility now. And Villa fans are excited at the prospect of signing such a talented midfielder.

Arsenal have rebuffed two bids of £25m and £30m, but Smith-Rowe is due to have talks with Mikel Arteta over his future and will be in control of his own destiny. The Englishman made [34 appearances](https://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/emile-smith-rowe/leistungsdaten/spieler/392765/plus/0?saison=2020) in all competitions last season, scoring and creating 14 goals, but he may have played his final game for the Gunners.

Time will tell.

***[In other news, John Terry has date night, watches England and arrives at Bodymoor Heath for pre-season](https://readastonvilla.com/2021/07/05/john-terry-has-date-night-watches-england-and-arrives-at-bodymoor-heath-for-pre-season/)***