Arsenal has identified Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers as a primary target for the summer transfer window, with an approach from the North London club anticipated. While discussions between the clubs have not yet commenced, interest in Rogers is expected to intensify, particularly following England‘s recent World Cup exit and the agreement of a deal for Christos Tzolis.
Aston Villa, however, has indicated a strong desire to retain Rogers and is reportedly in a robust negotiating position. The club is expected to demand a transfer fee exceeding £100m for the player. This valuation is influenced by other significant transfer deals completed in the current window for midfielders such as Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali. Rogers signed a new contract with Aston Villa last November, which extends until 2031, further strengthening Villa’s stance against selling him.
Interest from Top Clubs and Player Performance
Beyond Arsenal, other prominent clubs including Manchester United, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain have also shown interest in the 23-year-old forward. Rogers had a productive season with Aston Villa, scoring 14 goals and providing 11 assists in 55 appearances. His journey to becoming a full England international has been swift since joining Aston Villa from Middlesbrough in 2024 for a reported fee of £16m.
Rogers has already earned 21 caps for England, with five of those appearances coming during the 2026 World Cup. Notably, he provided an assist to Anthony Gordon during England‘s semi-final defeat to Argentina. His versatility on the field has been a key aspect of his game, having played various attacking roles throughout his career.
Arsenal‘s interest in Rogers aligns with their strategy to bolster their forward line, particularly on the left-hand side of the attack. With Christos Tzolis‘s arrival imminent and Leandro Trossard having departed for Besiktas in a deal worth £17m including add-ons, Mikel Arteta is looking to strengthen the squad. Reports suggest that Arteta has conveyed to sporting director Andrea Berta that Rogers is a top transfer priority this summer.
The player’s representatives are reportedly in advanced talks with Arsenal, indicating a strong push from the Gunners to secure his services. Despite the high valuation, Rogers has maintained a focused approach regarding his future. When asked about the reported £130m valuation, he commented that he doesn’t let external discussions influence him and remains focused on improving his game.
Tactical Role and Squad Reinforcement
Arsenal views Rogers as a wide option, especially considering the presence of players like Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze in the squad. Analysis suggests that Rogers is capable of playing as a left winger, a role where he spent approximately 45 per cent of his Premier League minutes for Aston Villa last season. His experience in Unai Emery‘s fluid system, which involved other attacking midfielders like Emiliano Buendia and John McGinn, provided him with significant exposure to wide play.
Rogers has demonstrated considerable flexibility throughout his career, having played as a winger at Lincoln City, and occasionally as a false nine or centre-forward at Middlesbrough. He also featured as a right winger in England‘s World Cup semi-final against Argentina, where he assisted Anthony Gordon‘s goal. At his current age, Rogers is still considered to be in a developmental stage where he can be coached into new skills and attributes, making him a valuable prospect for the left-wing position.
While Rogers remains a key target, Arsenal also retains interest in other forwards. Julian Alvarez is another player on their radar, though a deal appears challenging due to his family’s preference to remain in Spain and his reported desire to join Barcelona. Additionally, Bradley Barcola of PSG is a player of interest to Arsenal, as well as Liverpool. However, there has been no direct contact between Arsenal and PSG regarding Barcola, whose future may depend on PSG‘s own transfer activities, such as their attempts to sign winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig.
The departure of Leandro Trossard, who joined Besiktas, has created a vacancy in Arsenal‘s attacking options. Trossard, a 31-year-old, scored important goals during his tenure at Emirates Stadium, including a winner against West Ham United that was significant in the Premier League title race. His permanent transfer was confirmed by a club statement.
Arsenal is looking to strengthen its squad before the upcoming season, where they will begin the defence of their Premier League title. The club’s focus on securing Rogers underscores their commitment to reinforcing their attacking capabilities, particularly after their defeat to PSG in the Champions League final.
The agreement to sign Christos Tzolis for £34m from Club Brugge is a step towards this goal, with further progress on a move for Rogers expected to follow.
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Source: skysports.com
