The Athletic's David Ornstein has picked Morgan Rogers as the "one to watch" for this summer's transfer window. Do you think the club will sell him in the summer? What kind of fee would you accept for him?
David Ornstein’s One To Watch
The latest transfer window might have only just closed but already minds are turning to the next one and business that may be done during it.
Premier League talents such as Elliot Anderson, Adam Wharton and Carlos Baleba will be back on the agenda — with prospects in other countries, such as Ayyoub Bouaddi, sure to attract interest and probable free agents, including Ibrahima Konate, Andy Robertson and Harry Wilson also having suitors. Few are more coveted, however, than Morgan Rogers, and admiration from elsewhere has only risen amid an impressive season for both Aston Villa and England.
Rogers was named PFA Young Player of the Year in August and signed a new contract three months later, which secures him until 2031, and that puts Villa in a strong place. The 23-year-old attacker looks on course to contend for personal accolades again this campaign, while he is an integral part of Villa’s title bid and appears set to figure prominently at the 2026 World Cup.
He was high on the transfer lists of leading suitors last summer, but his importance to Villa manager Unai Emery made that irrelevant, and the club naturally want Rogers at the heart of what they are building. Admirers from the UK and abroad are not expected to be dissuaded by such resistance, though, and it will be intriguing to see how Villa respond if their resolve is tested — especially should they miss out on qualification for the 2026-27 Champions League.
Why will Rogers be in demand in the summer?
Beyond the slick passing and perfectly-executed shots from distance, one of the key attributes that makes Rogers so highly coveted is his appreciation of space.
Watching him play live is a joy at the best of times, but it is only when you see him up close that you understand just how often he is looking to maximise damage on the opposition by moving into the areas where they are not. Constant scanning, authoritative pointing to indicate what he thinks his team-mates ought to do, and a persistent demand to receive a pass will be guaranteed within a single sequence involving Rogers when Villa have possession.
Mapping his passes received shows just how liberated Rogers is when searching for the ball. He has played more often on the left side this season, but no part of the pitch is off limits for him to find space in Villa’s attack.
Given his long strides and wiry frame, Rogers’ driving runs through the heart of the pitch are also a feature of his game — which is highlighted in the graphic below. Get tight to him, and he can drop a shoulder to wriggle free in congested areas, but step off him, and he has the ability to take multiple players out of the game with a single lung-busting run.
Mark Carey
by ke_0z
11 Comments
£500 million, no less.
If we don’t make CL this season then I wouldn’t be surprised in all honesty.
Another reason to chase as many PL points as possible for CL football. I want a trophy as much as the next guy but modern football pays more in prestige & actual money for CL qualification.
I think it’s highly likely we receive some big bids this summer for Rogers. If we miss out on CL, I can’t see him sticking about. Even if we make it in, I’m not sure we can pay him what the biggest clubs could offer him, which he’ll surely want.
The good thing is, if he did leave it’ll be for a huge sum, and likely give us a lot of financial flexibility for the next couple of seasons. Emery would be a much bigger loss IMO
Realistically, I think £100-120m would be too much for us to turn down. We could do a lot with that amount of income.
Sad state of affairs. I absolutely love the guy but we need to be able to build a team around him rather than look to sell him as an asset. Just the way things are, I’m not sure we will be able to build.
Champions league is so important for revenue (was sick a little bit in my mouth typing this) so it’s imperative we finish top 5.
I think if we get CL we keep him for another season; financially we’ll be under no pressure and we can offer him assurances about what we want to push for and achieve (as well as maybe bumping up his wages, depending on what he’s on now) – the only teams I think he’d push for would be your Real/Barca/Bayern level clubs (which I think is fair)
If we miss out on CL again, I think he’ll go for £80m+ and we’ll accept that we have to use that money to strengthen the squad as a ehole
When you look at some of the players going for £100m+ these days, he’s got to be easily over that, given his youth and the length of his contract. I feel like we can hang onto him for another year though, if we make CL.
I don’t think anything will happen before the World Cup, and that could be an amazing shop window for him if he has a good tournament.
If Villa get into the Champions League, he stays but if they don’t it will still most likely take something in the region of £90-£100m to prize him away.
I bet this story getting signed off by Villa was a quid pro quo for him publishing the Mateta interest, which clearly sped Besiktas along.
Not stressed really. If he goes it’ll be for significantly more than £100m which solves many problems for us and I’m sure the club would consider it.
Otherwise he’s on a long contract so he’s only leaving if someone is throwing silly money our way.