Fulham are confident of completing the signing of Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe, talkSPORT understands.
The Cottagers are close to agreeing a club-record £35m deal with the Gunners reluctantly willing to let Smith Rowe go.
The 23-year-old came through the club's academy and has made 115 appearances, but has struggled to get playing time in the past two seasons.
He only played 346 minutes in the Premier league last season, having been sidelined by a knee injury at the end of last year.
Gabriel Martinelli has consolidated his place on the left wing, restricting Smith Rowe to substitute appearances.
His last appearance for England came in 2022 and he has since been left out of the squad after struggling to find his place in the Gunners' starting lineup.
Smith Rowe travelled with Arsenal on their pre-season tour of the US, but did not play a part in the Match against Bournemouth at night.
On Smith Rowe's future, manager Mikel Arteta said: “Yes, there are things going on in the background at the moment.
“We decided it was best to keep him out of the game today.”
The £35m fee would surpass Fulham's previous record of £27m which they paid for Ivory Coast midfielder Jean Michaël Seri in 2018.
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Crystal Palace were among the clubs interested in signing Smith Rowe but their west London rivals appear to have won the race.
Fulham also look set to outbid Palace for another signing, with Ryan Sessegnon likely to sign on a free transfer.
Sessegnon had been training with the Eagles following his release from Tottenham.
For Arsenal, Smith Rowe could be one of many departures from the Emirates this summer, with Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson also in talks over a move away.
However, Arteta will have some news to share, with Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori likely to sign from Bologna.
