Arsenal are reportedly scrambling to beat Chelsea to FIFA World Cup star Morgan Rogers' signature. It seems they have an unlikely recruiter in Declan Rice doing the persuading behind the scenes, per a report from The Daily Mail.
The 23-year-old Aston Villa attacker is fast becoming one of the most sought-after names of the transfer window. Because of this, Arsenal have their midfielder Declan Rice reportedly working on Rogers, trying to influence his decision in favour of north London.
Rice also isn’t working that mission in isolation. Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, and Noni Madueke are all in the England FIFA World Cup camp in North America. This gives the Gunners a ready-made quartet of advocates to sell life at the Emirates. Manager Mikel Arteta is believed to see Rogers as a definite improvement, particularly as the forward would add a more versatile option to their front line.
Rogers has scored 31 goals and laid on 29 assists in 125 appearances for Aston Villa. Chelsea and Manchester United have also expressed an interest in the 24-year-old, but Arsenal are now his main suitors. They also believe, per the report, that Villa may be willing to negotiate around £85 million. But Unai Emery’s club know that the prices for midfielders are on the rise and could still push for more.
Chelsea will not be playing in the Champions League next season, and that makes their pitch considerably harder, with European nights weighing heavily. Arsenal, fresh from reaching the Champions League final, can give Rogers exactly that platform.
The England international is concentrating on the FIFA World Cup for now, but the soft sell from Rice and co could prove to be the difference when the dust settles.
How Arsenal brilliance denied Chelsea star Cole Palmer his FIFA World Cup dream
While the Gunners chase one England midfielder, their impact has already affected another in heartbreaking fashion. The 2026 FIFA World Cup squad of 26 players was announced by Thomas Tuchel, and Chelsea talisman Cole Palmer was sensationally left out.
It was one of the most surprising decisions made in the entire announcement, and part of the explanation is arguably down to Arsenal's dominance. The quality of the title winners likely played on Tuchel's mind, and he decided to go with both Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke as his right-sided attacking options.
Cole Palmer’s pedigree was no use when the door was firmly closed on him by those Gunners names locking down spots. His underwhelming campaign did not help him out at all, as he scored just five non-penalty goals in the Premier League. The 24-year-old's form dipped, and there were notable fitness concerns as Chelsea limped to a disappointing 10th-place finish.