Man City are among the clubs weighing up a move for Aston Villa attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers, according to reports.
The Athletic claim that both the Cityzens and rivals Manchester United are “keeping a close eye” on the player’s situation, along with Arsenal and Chelsea.
UEFA Financial Fair Play rules mean that Villa will need to sell one of their prize assets, and Rogers may be sacrificed.
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A fee in the region of £80m has been cited, but the England international could end up costing considerably more if there is a bidding war.
Rogers was sold by Man City not that long ago
The 23-year-old spent four years in Manchester between 2019 and 2023, but he never made a first-team appearance, having been sent on loan to the likes of Lincoln City, Bournemouth and Blackpool.
Middlesbrough signed Rogers for an undisclosed fee in the summer of 2023, but he left for Villa just six months later for around £15m (including add-ons). A sell-on clause meant that City received 25%.
Do City need a no.10?
It is up for debate whether an attacking midfielder is a top priority for incoming head coach Enzo Maresca and Director of Football Hugo Viana.
The departure of Bernardo Silva means a new addition is required, and there would be an even more pressing need to reinforce the middle of the park if Tijjani Reijnders is allowed to leave too.
However, the focus appears to be on recruiting a no.8, rather than a no.10. Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson looks to be the top target, while the likes of Newcastle’s Sandro Tonali and Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez have also been discussed.
Rogers is clearly on City’s radar, but there is no indication at the moment that a bid for the player is imminent.
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