Arsenal use Rice to lure Rogers as Newcastle reject Spurs' £80m Tonali bid

Arsenal are pursuing two of their top summer targets through contrasting routes: using Declan Rice’s personal influence to court Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, while monitoring Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali after Tottenham’s £80m approach was rebuffed.

Morgan Rogers: The Rice factor

Arteta has identified Rogers as a priority signing and an upgrade on his existing left-flank options. With both player and persuader currently at the World Cup, The Daily Mail reports that Rice — a close friend of the 23-year-old — is using their proximity in the England camp to encourage Rogers towards the Emirates Stadium.

Aston Villa have made clear they regard Rogers as central to their plans for a return to the Champions League, and any deal is expected to cost in the region of £85m. However, Villa’s need to comply with financial regulations may force their hand, and the report claims Rogers himself is open to the move and willing to hear what the Premier League champions have to offer. Chelsea are also said to be monitoring the situation.

Arsenal are expected to accelerate their transfer activity once the World Cup concludes, mirroring their approach in July last year when they moved quickly after a tournament delay.

Sandro Tonali: Spurs’ surprise bid rejected

Newcastle were reportedly caught off guard by Tottenham’s £80m offer for Sandro Tonali this week, having previously only fielded enquiries from Arsenal and Manchester City regarding the Italian midfielder. The Magpies rejected the bid outright.

According to The Telegraph, a source close to the club stated that “several clubs had expressed an interest in signing Tonali, but nobody had met their valuation”, with Spurs becoming the first to submit a formal offer for the 26-year-old.

Arsenal’s interest in Tonali dates to the end of the January window, when Fabrizio Romano reported the club had made calls to assess his availability after learning of the player’s own interest in a move. No concrete offer was submitted at that stage, but speculation has persisted into the summer.

With a central midfielder listed among Arteta’s top priorities alongside a winger and a striker, Tonali remains a name in the frame — though Newcastle’s rejection of Spurs’ approach signals the asking price will be steep for any suitor.