Arsenal are interested in signing Morgan Rogers and have the Aston Villa attacker - who Ollie Watkins knows better than most - on their summer transfer wishlist
22:30, 01 Jun 2026
Ollie Watkins with Rio Ferdinand
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Ollie Watkins spoke about his Aston Villa team-mate Morgan Rogers to Rio Ferdinand(Image: Rio Ferdinand Presents)
Ollie Watkins has described Arsenal transfer target Morgan Rogers as a very talented player who can create things from nothing.
football.london understands that the former Manchester City youngster is on Arsenal's summer transfer wishlist. Watkins has played more matches with Rogers than any other player during his career, after sharing the pitch 120 times for club and country.
That total could rise even further this summer with both being in the England squad selected by Thomas Tuchel for the World Cup. Arsenal, however, are keen to ensure that tally does not increase further in an Aston Villa shirt next season.
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Watkins has already given them a ringing endorsement ahead of the summer transfer window. While appearing on Rio Ferdinand Presents, he said: "I always say to him, or sometimes I say to the boys, like, 'boys, look for Morgan, give him the ball.'
"Because I know if Morgan gets the ball, he's going to look for me. So I'm saying: 'get the ball to Morgan.'
"But not only that, not selfishly because of me, but because he's a player that can create things from nothing, you know, he's very talented. He's always going to look forward, and he's probably not going to just get the ball and play it backwards."
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Watkins also spoke about the relationship he has built on the pitch with Rogers and how it started away from the grass. This summer's tournament could allow the likes of Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke to build up bonds with their England team-mate in North America.
Explaning their relationship, Watkins said: "I think for a start, it definitely comes off the pitch, so it does help, the more time you can spend with each other, and sit down, just have lunch together.
"Like, you know how it is, you can have a team-mate, and you may not know anything about their personal life, or not speak to them for ages.
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"And I feel like if I see him, you know, going into a tackle or whatever, and he gets fouled, I'm there to back him up, or I feel like the connection is much better. So, yeah, I felt like the relationship is built off the pitch, and then the better off the pitch is taken onto the pitch.
"I'm close with Morgan, and since he's come in, really, we've always been quite tight, and I think it reflects on the pitch. We're always working hard together. Whenever he gets the ball, he's always looking for me, and vice versa."
Head to the Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel at 8am on Tuesday, June 2 to watch the full interview