One player high up on Chelsea’s list this summer is Aston Villa talent Morgan Rogers. The England star has been constantly linked with a move to Stamford Bridge, and a reunion with Cole Palmer.
Both Palmer and Rogers followed Phil Foden through the City academy but unlike Foden, the two players have left Man City for pastures new. Palmer is captaining Chelsea on occasion these days, a key player.
Rogers is the star of the show at Aston Villa, having gone on loan to Middlesbrough before being bought by Unai Emery’s side. Since joining Villa, Rogers has been involved in 52 goals in 116 games for Villa.
If you could pick Chelsea’s next no.10, would you have Bellingham or Rogers?
Leboeuf knows…
Little surprise then, that England’s elite want to sign Rogers. It is believed Villa are willing to cash in if an offer of £100m arrives, the same fee that Man City paid to sign Jack Grealish from Aston Villa in 2021.
Why Chelsea have their best chance of Morgan Rogers deal
Chelsea are not alone, however, with Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool all said to be keeping tabs on the England star. A player that Frank Leboeuf recently claimed is better than Jude Bellingham.
There is a question mark over whether Rogers would actually fit in a side that already boasts Palmer, but having both in the same team only improves a struggling Chelsea side. Now, they have a real chance.
Nottingham Forest v Aston Villa - Premier League
Photo by Neville Williams/Aston Villa FC via Getty Images
That is thanks to outcast Axel Disasi. The Chelsea centre-back is currently on loan at West Ham, where he is finally proving why Chelsea spent £39m on him in the first place. That form is generating interest.
There has even been an element of shock among the West Ham squad that Disasi had not been playing for Chelsea. Left-back El Hadji Malick Diouf branded Chelsea “crazy” for not using Disasi more.
Chelsea can sign Morgan Rogers in a player-plus-cash deal
Villa may want a nine-figure fee for Rogers, but Chelsea now have an opportunity to steal a march on their rivals in pursuit of Rogers’ signature, while reducing the cost. Villa want to re-sign Disasi.
Is there a way back for Axel Disasi at Chelsea?
Or do the Blues just need to cut their losses? 👀
Axel Disasi for Chelsea
Photo by Andrew Kearns – CameraSport via Getty Images
Reports this week indicate that Villa have joined Fulham and West Ham in pursuit of a permanent deal for the Chelsea defender, who was part of the infamous bomb squad alongside Raheem Sterling and co.
Disasi’s Chelsea career is over, even if Chelsea are likely to sign a centre-back or two. Possibly, Chelsea can convince Villa to sell Rogers to them, and only them, by promising Disasi as part of the Rogers deal.
Chelsea will know that despite boasting a few more years on Disasi’s contract, there is no chance they will ever get their initial outlay back. But perhaps, somewhere between £15m and £20m could be knocked off.
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