Arsenal transfer news: Emile Smith Rowe set to join RB Leipzig on loan until end of season

Exclusive: The Gunners starlet is currently on his way to Germany to complete a medical at the Bundesliga club

Wednesday 30 January 2019 19:18

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January transfer window 2019: Premier League transfer round-up

Arsenal starlet Emile Smith Rowe is set to join RB Leipzig on loan until the end of the season, subject to passing a medical.

The Independent understands that the midfielder is currently on a flight to Germany with terms already agreed between the two clubs.

The 18-year-old has been assured first team action by Leipzig and Unai Emery and Arsenal have given their full blessing to Smith Rowe, who is seen as a long-term star at the club.

Leipzig, who are currently fourth in the Bundesliga, have long held an interest in Smith Rowe but any decision to allow the teenager to leave was subject to Arsenal confirming the signing of Denis Suarez on loan from Barcelona.

Arsenal plan to add another loan signing before the end of the transfer window meaning playing opportunities for Smith Rowe would have been limited in the second half of the season.

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

Show all 9

1/9Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

We rank every Arsenal player signed since the arrival of Sven Mislintat from Borussia Dortmund.

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Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

8. Stephan Lichtsteiner

5/10. Signed on a free transfer from Juventus, although far too slow to be relied upon as a regular first-team option.

AFP/Getty Images

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

7. Konstantinos Mavropanos

6/10. The first signing made under Mislintat's tenure as head of recruitment. Was sent-off last season against Leicester, but still only 21 with plenty of potential.

Arsenal FC via Getty Images

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

6. Sokratis Papastathopoulos

6/10. A reliable option at the heart of Arsenal's defence, but £17.6m was an awful lot to spent on a 30-year-old.

Getty

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

5. Henrikh Mkhitaryan

6/10. Arrived at the Emirates as part of the deal taking Alexis Sanchez to Manchester United. Has impressed sporadically but is yet to look anywhere near his best.

Getty

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

4. Bernd Leno

7/10. Forced to wait for his chance, but now Unai Emery's established number one. Has made the occasional mistake but settling in well.

Action Images via Reuters

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

3. Matteo Guendouzi

8/10. Pound for pound, arguably Arsenal's best signing of the last two seasons. Already a regular aged just 19 and a snip at £7m.

REUTERS

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

2. Lucas Torreira

9/10. Exactly the sort of player Arsenal have been crying out for years now. Not just a first-team regular, but utterly essential to how Emery wants to play.

Getty

Ranking every Arsenal player signed since Sven Mislintat's appointment

1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang

9/10. A fantastic signing, albeit for a hefty sum. Already has 24 goals in just 35 Premier League appearances and has developed a fine strike partnership with Alexandre Lacazette.

Getty Images

The England U17 World Cup winner has impressed since breaking into the Arsenal squad this season, scoring three times in six appearances, but hasn’t featured since late November after suffering a hip injury.

Smith Rowe joins fellow Arsenal midfielder Reiss Nelson in Germany, who has excelled since joining Hoffenheim on a season-long loan.

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