Newcastle reportedly eyeing move for Arsenal star Emile Smith Rowe in January

Smith Rowe has only made two Premier League appearances for Arsenal this season and has struggled to break into the starting lineup.

The 23-year-old midfielder's future at the club was in doubt and he spent a large portion of last season on the bench.

The Magpies are considering making a move for the England youngster in January as they look to bolster their midfield options.

The Northern Echo reports that the Magpies are thinking about signing Smith Rowe during the winter transfer window and that club executives will shortly gather to discuss their preparations for January.

They believe that Yasir al-Rummayan, the chairman, will meet with directors Amanda Staveley and Mehrdad Ghodoussi of Newcastle before the end of the international break. 

Eddie Howe, the head coach of the Magpies, will also take part in the discussions as the successful team works to develop their January transfer strategy.

Reports also suggest that  Newcastle’s recruitment team have had an internal discussion about Smith Rowe being their potential target given his lack of playing time at Arsenal.

Meanwhile, Mikel Arteta reaffirmed his opinion of the 23-year-old as a "very important player," but he also hinted that the academy product would soon leave the club.

The 23-year-old has played in six games across all competitions this season, despite dealing with injuries much of the time.