Arsenal’s sporting director, Edu Gaspar, has emphatically expressed his desire for Emile Smith Rowe to remain at the club, dismissing West Ham’s interest in signing the 23-year-old, according to a tweet by Florian Plettenberg, a Sky Sports journalist.

Despite West Ham’s keen interest in securing a loan deal for the attacking midfielder during the January transfer window, it appears that Arsenal is unwavering in its decision to retain Smith Rowe, dealing a setback to the Hammers’ transfer aspirations.

This development poses a challenge for West Ham, which has been actively seeking to bolster its squad with at least one attacking player this month. Smith Rowe was viewed as a potential enhancement to their options alongside Lucas Paqueta, especially considering the struggles of Said Benrahma and Pablo Fornals to find form this season.

While the immediate prospect of Smith Rowe joining West Ham seems improbable, the situation may evolve in the future. With only two starts in the current campaign, the Englishman could face frustration if he doesn’t carve a place in Mikel Arteta’s plans.

For now, it’s a signal for West Ham to shift their focus to alternative targets, acknowledging the pressing need for additional options in David Moyes’ squad for the remainder of the season.