Arsenal target Morgan Rogers in £100m move as Villa vow to resist sale

Arsenal are preparing to test Aston Villa’s resolve over Morgan Rogers this summer, with reports indicating the Gunners are willing to spend in excess of £100m to secure the England international.

Villa have made clear they have no intention of selling Rogers, whose contract runs until 2031. But according to The Telegraph, the 23-year-old is himself open to a switch to north London, creating a potential standoff between club and player. BBC Sport has reported that any bid would need to comfortably exceed £80m to be taken seriously, with a £100m offer seen as the figure most likely to force Villa’s hand.

Rogers enjoyed a standout 2024-25 campaign, registering 26 goal contributions including a goal and an assist in the Europa League final. That form has attracted interest from Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City, but Arsenal are understood to be Rogers’ preferred destination.

The pursuit fits with a broader shift in thinking at the Emirates. Manager Mikel Arteta, speaking after Arsenal’s penalty shoot-out defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, confirmed he wants to incorporate more individual unpredictability into his team’s style. When asked whether PSG’s approach would influence Arsenal’s development, Arteta said “yes”, adding: “The individual action that they have for sure.”

Arsenal co-chair Josh Kroenke has also signalled an active summer. “We are going to look to strengthen because we know that teams around us are going to get better,” Kroenke said. “If you are not trying to continually evolve and improve, you are standing still.”

Rogers is currently with England at the World Cup in the United States, where he is pushing for a regular starting role under Thomas Tuchel. He is expected to return from the tournament to a significant transfer battle, with a decision on his future likely to define the shape of his career.