Arsenal’s Emile Smith Rowe is likely to cost Aston Villa big money if they decide to make another move for him next summer, says the Express & Star’s Luke Hatfield.

Villa tried to bring Smith Rowe to Villa Park this summer but failed in their attempts, watching two bids, including one worth around £30m, get rejected by Arsenal.

It was not too much of a blow for the Midlands club, however, who have still managed to bolster their attacking options in this transfer window, though they have lost Jack Grealish.

Wingers Leon Bailey and Emiliano Buendia were both brought in from Bayer Leverkusen and Norwich City respectively, which should help soften the blow Grealish’s move to Manchester City has dealt.

And in the near future, Hatfield believes manager Dean Smith could try to improve his attack even further by making another play for Smith Rowe, though the Aston Villa journalist has warned any deal is unlikely to be cheap.

“The fee’s likely to be much, much higher,” Hatfield told FFC. “Considering they already had two pretty big bids turned down this summer when they were in the middle of a contract dispute so to speak, you’d imagine the fee would be incredibly high next summer. But it might be one they revisit.”

Villa seemed like they desperately wanted Smith Rowe going into this season, so it certainly would not be a surprise to see them target the English youngster again.