Arsenal have initiated behind-the-scenes efforts to explore the feasibility of signing Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, hoping to steal a march on rivals Chelsea ahead of what promises to be a fiercely competitive summer transfer window.
Mikel Arteta, fresh off leading the Gunners to yet another second-placed finish in the Premier League, is determined to inject more creativity into his squad after narrowly missing out on silverware last term. While Benjamin Sesko remains the top attacking target, Arsenal are fully aware that RB Leipzig will demand in excess of £85 million for the Slovenian striker, prompting the club to widen their radar.
According to Give Me Sport, that has brought 22-year-old Rogers into focus. Arsenal’s recruitment team, now headed by sporting director Andrea Berta, have reportedly conducted informal checks on the England international to assess the likelihood of persuading Aston Villa to part ways with one of their brightest assets.
However, Villa’s stance is firm. The Midlands club have made it clear they would only entertain serious offers beginning at £90 million, a valuation that reflects Rogers’s breakout 2024/25 season. The versatile attacker has emerged as a core component in Unai Emery’s system, and Villa see him as central to their long-term ambitions, especially with European football now back on their agenda.
Rogers, who still has five years left on a contract worth approximately £75,000 per week, is not actively pushing for a move. His impressive development since arriving from Middlesbrough has drawn high praise, with Sky Sports’ Dan Bardell branding his rise “frightening”, a testament to the player’s evolution into one of the league’s most dynamic attacking midfielders.
While Arsenal remain keen, they are not alone. Chelsea have also been closely monitoring Rogers’s situation and remain in the frame, although their interest has yet to materialise into a formal bid. With both clubs eager to reinforce their attacking depth, the battle could hinge on which side is willing to match Villa’s steep valuation.
For Arsenal, the situation is nuanced. While they admire Rogers’s versatility and potential to enhance their attacking rhythm, they are cautious about entering a bidding war, particularly given their existing financial priorities. Much will depend on how Arteta and Berta navigate the coming weeks as they weigh up whether the Englishman is worth the heavy outlay or if they pivot toward more cost-effective targets.
Arsenal’s interest in Rogers is ambitious, but landing him won’t be straightforward. Unai Emery is unlikely to do his former club any favours, especially when the player in question has become such a pivotal piece of his Villa project.
The English international has the technical prowess, versatility, and ceiling to thrive at the Emirates, but unless Arsenal are ready to test Villa’ss resolve with a massive bid, this may remain a case of admiration from afar rather than materialising into a transfer breakthrough.
