Fulham have submitted a club-record bid worth up to £35m to sign Arsenal midfielder Emile Smith Rowe.
Smith Rowe is keen to leave Arsenal after struggling for fitness and favour across the last two seasons and is open to crossing the capital to join Fulham.
The Cottagers are nearing an agreement with Arsenal over a deal that would represent a club-record fee, eclipsing the £25m spent to sign Jean Michael Seri in 2018.
Crystal Palace have also been linked with Smith Rowe but Fulham are leading the chase, having seen an opening proposal of £30m turned down.
The 23-year-old will hope a transfer can reignite a career that has stalled since a breakout 2021-22 campaign that saw Smith Rowe score 10 league goals and earn nomination for the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
He featured for just 347 minutes in the Premier League last season as competition from Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli limited his involvement.
He could become Fulham’s first signing of the summer as the Cottagers look to build on last season’s 13th-placed finish. Fulham are also interested in signing a central defender following the departure of Tosin Adarabioyo to Chelsea.
