Morgan Rogers to Arsenal has felt like one of the more inevitable transfers of the summer.
The 23-year-old is expected to leave Aston Villa this transfer window, and personal terms with Arsenal have already been discussed without an issue.
Rogers is reportedly willing to turn down more lucrative offers from the likes of Chelsea purely because of his preference for a move to the Emirates.
He is exactly the profile Mikel Arteta is looking for — versatile, Premier League proven, young and hungry, and part of the manager’s wider push to build an English core within the squad.
🤔 PICK ONE: Would you rather Arsenal signed Bradley Barcola or Morgan Rogers this summer?
Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke will all surely be in his ear at the World Cup.
But according to Sky Sports’ transfer insider Dharmesh Sheth, the deal is not as advanced as the noise around it would suggest.
No contact between Arsenal and Aston Villa for Morgan Rogers yet
Speaking on the Transfer Talk podcast, Sheth was clear that no formal contact has taken place between Arsenal and Aston Villa.
“I think that one is live. I think Arsenal definitely interested in Morgan Rogers,” he said. I don’t think at this stage there’s been club to club contact, but there’s also an understanding that if — it’s a big if still — a deal can be agreed between the two clubs, that Morgan Rogers would be open to speaking to Arsenal, as opposed to me putting my neck on the line there and saying yeah, he wants to go.
“But there’s definitely legs in that one.”
Aston Villa are reluctant to sell their best player, but may be forced to if a figure in the region of £80million is reached.
Arsenal are also pursuing Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis as a more affordable complementary option, believed to be a separate deal from the Rogers one.
Some reports have even suggested the Gunners could sign both Rogers and Bradley Barcola this summer, in what would be extraordinary outlay to strengthen the attack.
The Premier League champions may also be tangled in a transfer battle with Tottenham for Jean-Matteo Bahoya from Eintracht Frankfurt.
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