'Advanced stages' - Fulham to beat Crystal Palace to 'impressive' £35m transfer 'this week'

Fulham are expected to beat Crystal Palace to the signing of Arsenal hotshot Emile Smith-Rowe this week for a club record £35 million fee.

The Guardian reported last week that The Eagles had joined the race for the midfielder after the Cottagers saw a £30 million bid rejected by The Gunners. Crystal Palace are in the market for new attacking influence following the exit of Michael Olise to Bayern Munich with Eberechi Eze also linked with an exit for Selhurst Park.

Fulham remained frontrunners and the West London club now appear to be on the verge of an agreement with Arsenal. Smith-Rowe did not feature in his side's matchday squad for a friendly meeting with Manchester United in the USA over the weekend, watching on from the stands.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano took to social media platform X to confirm that the 24-year-old missed out due to his imminent move to Fulham. Romano added that, after months of speculation, the transfer is expected to be completed 'next week'.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed that negotiations were 'happening in the background' amid reports that the club had now accepted an improved £35 million bid from Fulham. That splurge will be a club record fee for Marco Silva's side and comes having cashed in on Joao Palhinha - the Portugal international joining Bayern Munich for £47 million earlier this month.

That fee will represent a healthy profit for Arsenal with Smith-Rowe a product of the club's youth academy. The player joined the youth set-up in 2010 and has gone on to make 115 appearances for the first team.

Watch - The Chris Wheatley Show: Arsenal summer transfer special: Sesko, Douglas Luiz, and Zirkzee

Smith-Rowe's exit will come as somewhat of a disappointment for some Arsenal supporters, who had hoped for big things from the midfielder. Speaking to Sky Sports in 2020, Arteta had predicted big things for the rising star.

He said: "He's a player with very specific qualities to play in those pockets in that position as an attacking midfielder. I am excited to work with him. I have been talking with him and I have followed him during his spell on loan. I think he's someone who can be pretty impressive."