Arsenal can get Aston Villa to change their minds about selling Morgan Rogers this summer, but only on one condition. The Gunners are yet to strike during the summer transfer window, but they are in no rush, with Mikel Arteta having no desperate needs coming into this window following a title-winning season.
That's not to say they don't have needs or positions they want to strengthen, but Andrea Berta and Arteta can afford to be very careful with their recruitment. At this stage of the project, only upgrades will do, and it's not easy to find upgrades on such good players, and it's much more difficult to find those players on affordable fees.
Left wing is a position of need for Arsenal this summer, while they could do with a winger who can play up top, given Gabriel Jesus is likely to leave.
Arsenal are struggling to make progress with Rogers
Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers celebrates scoring vs Man utd
One player Arsenal are very keen on is Aston Villa star Rogers, who, at 23, is a superstar in the making based on recent evidence. The versatile forward scored 14 and assisted 12 last season, playing a central role in Aston Villa securing a top four finish and Champions League qualification.
But Villa, who are not short of cash, know what they have in Rogers, and they are under no pressure to sell. With that in mind, Villa are refusing to strike a deal, but the Daily Mail say there is one exception.
According to the report, Villa's head will turn if Arsenal are willing to pay a British-record fee of £130million. That would be a huge statement from Arsenal, and while they have done it with Declan Rice in the past, paying £100million to secure his services, the Gunners are now at a very different stage.
The Gunners can still spend big, as long as they balance their spending with some exits, but a £130million outlay would leave them very little room to strengthen in other areas.
Rogers 'versatility' stands out
Morgan Rogers
The biggest reason Rogers is a good fit for Arsenal is his ability to play across the front line, which ticks their box this summer.
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has said: "He loves football - his commitment with the club is fantastic, his attitude every day. He's a leader in the dressing room because he's always positive, he has energy, and then he has skills, of course.
"His versatility is very important and to be positive playing 10 numbers inside, 10 numbers outside, even like a winger, is very, very important for us. Through the mentality he's showing, he can get his best and adding numbers now - goals, assists."
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Arsenal are making progress in a deal to sign Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers.