Aston Villa seal deals for Rogers and Arsenal’s ‘next Gnabry’

Robin Bairner

• 1 Feb 2024 12:20 GMT
• 3 min read

Aston Villa have been one of the busier Premier League teams on Deadline Day, sealing transfers for Middlesbrough’s Morgan Rogers as well as Arsenal talent who has been likened to Serge Gnabry.

Rogers, 21, has joined Villa on a deal worth an estimated £15 million from the Championship side, with the forward boasting extensive experience in the second-tier.

A former England U20 international who was previously on the books of Manchester City before moving to Boro in the summer, he has yet to make his Premier League debut.

Villa have also secured the transfer of Arsenal talent Lino Sousa, according to multiple reports. The 19-year-old left-back will, however, move to Plymouth on loan for the remainder of the season.

There had been intense competition for the defender, with Rangers, Juventus and Galatasaray all chasing the teenager.

Back in the Midlands. 🤝

Morgan Rogers is a Villan! 🤩 pic.twitter.com/iUn0W4J3GS

— Aston Villa (@AVFCOfficial) February 1, 2024

A deal Arsenal could regret

Sousa has been likened to Arsenal’s Gnabry, not because he plays in the same role as the Bayern Munich winger, but because he is seen by the supporters as a player who boasts a similar potential to the Germany star.

Gnabry was famously written off by the Gunners – and also Tony Pulis during a loan spell at WBA – before moving to the Bundesliga with Werder Bremen, where he flourished after signing for just €5m.

Data analytics experts SciSports report that Sousa has the potential to reach a similar standard to Alex Moreno and Lucas Digne, who are Villa’s first-team left-backs at present, yet it would be little surprise to see that estimate re-evaluated should he flourish when given a first taste of first-team football in the Championship with Plymouth.

The Arsenal U21 star is rated as the best full-back or wing-back in the Premier League.2 this season, with his offensive statistics particularly eye-catching, although one weakness to keep an eye on based on the numbers is the quality of his crossing.