England star worth £80m targeted by Arsenal, Man Utd and Chelsea as World Cup approaches

Jack Otway
Fri, 10 Apr 2026 07:45:18 +0000

Morgan Rogers finds himself at the heart of a potential £80million summer transfer battle, with three of English football's biggest clubs circling the Aston Villa star.

Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have all reignited their pursuit of the 23-year-old attacking midfielder, whose performances have made him one of the most sought-after players in the Premier League.

The England international's remarkable output of 24 goals and 23 assists since the beginning of last season has cemented his status as a premium talent commanding a substantial fee.

Thomas Tuchel is anticipated to make Rogers a central figure in his World Cup plans this summer, with his performances in the USA likely to influence any transfer negotiations.

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Villa secured an extension to Rogers' contract last summer, tying him to the club until 2031 with no release clause included in the deal.

According to The Times, the Midlands club's £80m valuation takes into account a sell-on agreement with Middlesbrough, who parted with the midfielder for £15m in February 2024.

That arrangement requires Villa to hand over 20 per cent of any profit from a future sale to his former club.

The substantial asking price could prove prohibitive for interested parties, though the absence of a buyout clause means Villa retain complete control over any negotiations this summer.

Villa's financial position remains precarious despite recent improvements, with the club posting losses of £120.3m during the 2022-23 campaign followed by £85.9m in red ink the subsequent year.

A profit of £17m last season offered some relief, though the situation continues to require careful management.

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The Birmingham club faces an ongoing battle to comply with Profit and Sustainability Regulations, and offloading Rogers would significantly ease those pressures.

Any decision to sell their prized asset would help address the delicate balance sheet situation, though Villa must weigh this against their sporting ambitions and the difficulty of replacing such a productive player.

Champions League football appears to be a driving factor for Rogers, with both Villa's European prospects and those of his potential suitors likely to shape any summer move.

Villa's ambitions remain firmly intact following their 3-1 victory over Bologna in Thursday's Europa League quarter-final first leg, while qualification for next season's Champions League remains a realistic target.

Arsenal are already assured to be playing in the tournament, with the Gunners sitting top of the Premier League table.

United sit third in the table, having enjoyed a stunning resurgence under Michael Carrick.

Chelsea, however, have blown hot and cold under Liam Rosenior and could end up missing out as a result.

Unai Emery has spoken about the physical attention his star player receives from opponents.

Earlier this season, he said: "Morgan is a very important player for us and sometimes they are trying to kick him and stop him, sometimes being close to a yellow card or red card."

The Villa manager added: "I am not complaining. I am reviewing everything which happened in the matches we played."