Morgan Rogers is expected to be the Premier Leagueâs most in-demand player this summer with a near-ÂŁ100m race developing between Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris St-Germain.
All four clubs are keen on buying Rogers, who would cost close to ÂŁ100m when add-ons are factored in. The fee demanded by Aston Villa is certainly expected to be in excess of ÂŁ80m and the price might be driven higher, to an initial ÂŁ90m, if a bidding war develops.
Rogersâ former club Middlesbrough, who sold him for up to ÂŁ15m in February 2024, are due a 20 per cent sell-on fee on any profit made.
Villa do not want to lose Rogers, who signed a new long-term contract until 2031 in November last year, but will still face financial pressures this summer. That will be the case even if, as appears likely, they will qualify for the Champions League.
Rogers has an extremely good relationship with Villa and with manager Unai Emery and is not pushing to move. But if an acceptable offer is made it will be looked at and it may be the summer for the club to cash in on a player who has become their most saleable asset.
There was interest in Rogers last year but the 23-year-old has kicked on this season and is now a regular starter for England and will be a key member of Thomas Tuchelâs World Cup squad which may further enhance his value.
United are strongly interested in Rogers who was signed by their current interim head coach Michael Carrick for ÂŁ1.5m from Manchester City in February 2024. Although he stayed for only six months Rogers established a strong relationship with Carrick, who is looking increasingly likely to get the United job on a long-term basis.
Last month, before facing Villa, Carrick said of Rogers: âYou could always see what he was possibly going to be capable of and the potential in terms of his attributes, the way he carries the ball, he can play off his left foot, play off his right foot, create and score goals and really good athletically, so there were a lot of things there when we took him [at Middlesbrough] to start withâŠhe is a good person, great to work with so I am delighted he has done so well.â
Rogers is also known to, and admired by, Unitedâs director of football Jason Wilcox who was Cityâs academy director and helped bring the attacking midfielder through the ranks at the club, having bought him from West Bromwich Albion as a 16-year-old.
Rogers can play as a No 10 or as a left-winger and United are considering their options in those areas â as are Arsenal where Mikel Arteta is also an admirer and where there are questions marks over the future of both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli and where Eberechi Eze is yet to establish himself.
Chelsea want a left-winger, primarily, with Jamie Gittens having so far been a disappointment and were â along with Arsenal â among the clubs who registered an interest in Rogers last summer.
PSGâs involvement cannot be discounted and Rogers is a player the Champions League holders greatly admire. Plus they have not yet bought an English player in his prime, or entering his prime, and that could be an added factor. However they, too, would need to create room in their squad.
Other big clubs are also monitoring the situation including Bayern Munich, although they are currently well-stocked in the positions that Rogers plays in. Liverpool, also, are hovering but are understood to be prioritising other areas while City are in the background although it seems unlikely he would return to his former club.
All four clubs are keen on buying Rogers, who would cost close to ÂŁ100m when add-ons are factored in. The fee demanded by Aston Villa is certainly expected to be in excess of ÂŁ80m and the price might be driven higher, to an initial ÂŁ90m, if a bidding war develops.
Rogersâ former club Middlesbrough, who sold him for up to ÂŁ15m in February 2024, are due a 20 per cent sell-on fee on any profit made.
Villa do not want to lose Rogers, who signed a new long-term contract until 2031 in November last year, but will still face financial pressures this summer. That will be the case even if, as appears likely, they will qualify for the Champions League.
Rogers has an extremely good relationship with Villa and with manager Unai Emery and is not pushing to move. But if an acceptable offer is made it will be looked at and it may be the summer for the club to cash in on a player who has become their most saleable asset.
There was interest in Rogers last year but the 23-year-old has kicked on this season and is now a regular starter for England and will be a key member of Thomas Tuchelâs World Cup squad which may further enhance his value.
United are strongly interested in Rogers who was signed by their current interim head coach Michael Carrick for ÂŁ1.5m from Manchester City in February 2024. Although he stayed for only six months Rogers established a strong relationship with Carrick, who is looking increasingly likely to get the United job on a long-term basis.
Last month, before facing Villa, Carrick said of Rogers: âYou could always see what he was possibly going to be capable of and the potential in terms of his attributes, the way he carries the ball, he can play off his left foot, play off his right foot, create and score goals and really good athletically, so there were a lot of things there when we took him [at Middlesbrough] to start withâŠhe is a good person, great to work with so I am delighted he has done so well.â
Rogers is also known to, and admired by, Unitedâs director of football Jason Wilcox who was Cityâs academy director and helped bring the attacking midfielder through the ranks at the club, having bought him from West Bromwich Albion as a 16-year-old.
Rogers can play as a No 10 or as a left-winger and United are considering their options in those areas â as are Arsenal where Mikel Arteta is also an admirer and where there are questions marks over the future of both Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli and where Eberechi Eze is yet to establish himself.
Chelsea want a left-winger, primarily, with Jamie Gittens having so far been a disappointment and were â along with Arsenal â among the clubs who registered an interest in Rogers last summer.
PSGâs involvement cannot be discounted and Rogers is a player the Champions League holders greatly admire. Plus they have not yet bought an English player in his prime, or entering his prime, and that could be an added factor. However they, too, would need to create room in their squad.
Other big clubs are also monitoring the situation including Bayern Munich, although they are currently well-stocked in the positions that Rogers plays in. Liverpool, also, are hovering but are understood to be prioritising other areas while City are in the background although it seems unlikely he would return to his former club.
