Aston Villa are reportedly play hardball as Chelsea push for top attacking target Morgan Rogers in the summer transfer window.
Chelsea’s pursuit of Morgan Rogers has hit a financial wall, with Aston Villa reportedly demanding over £80 million for their prized forward. Enzo Maresca is believed to be a huge admirer of the 23-year-old and has placed him high on Chelsea’s summer wishlist, but the Villans are making it clear they have no intention of letting him leave on the cheap.
According to a report by Football Insider, Rogers is viewed as a “dream signing” at Stamford Bridge. The Blues have been monitoring the former Manchester City academy product ever since his resurgence at Villa Park under Unai Emery, where he delivered an impressive campaign and became a fan favourite.
Chelsea explore swap options as Aston Villa stand firm
Chelsea have already tested the waters with an ambitious offer involving cash plus players, including Tosin Adarabioyo and Nicolas Jackson, in a bid to bring the England international to west London. However, Aton Villa swiftly rejected the approach, with insiders revealing that the Midlands club have no intention of weakening their squad, especially with Champions League football on the horizon.
Despite Aston Villa’s financial concerns amid the Profit and Sustainability Rules, they remain steadfast in their desire to keep Rogers. He still has five years left on his current deal, giving the club the upper hand in negotiations and allowing them to set such a high asking price.
Morgan Rogers move is not dead yet
Former Aston Villa scout Mick Brown recently suggested that the club is “confident” Rogers will stay, and sources believe it would take an extraordinary offer to even tempt Villa to reconsider. That said, Chelsea are unlikely to walk away from their pursuit without trying every possible angle, be it an improved bid or a more lucrative player-plus-cash deal.
Football Insider’s Pete O’Rourke said, “Chelsea see Morgan Rogers as a player who could elevate their attack. They’ve tracked him for a long time and believe he fits Maresca’s system perfectly. But with Villa valuing him at £80 million+, it’s a difficult deal to do.”
Still, this is a transfer window where Chelsea have been nothing if not bold, and with Maresca keen to shape the squad in his image, a late push for Rogers shouldn’t be ruled out. If Chelsea can get creative and persuasive, the Morgan Rogers saga could yet have a Stamford Bridge twist before the window slams shut.