Arsenal using €117m star to help sign Morgan Rogers

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Cameron Smith | Digital Content Producer

Accredited sports journalist covering football since 2020

Arsenal have reportedly enlisted the help of Declan Rice to help convince Aston Villa superstar Morgan Rogers to join the club this summer.

Rogers, 23, has been earmarked as one of the Gunners’ top transfer targets and they are currently working on a blockbuster deal to bring him to the Emirates Stadium after the 2026 World Cup, as confirmed by FootballTransfers.

Sources have informed us that Rogers is currently only interested in joining Arsenal or Bayern Munich this summer, despite Chelsea’s desire to bring him to west London, and Mikel Arteta is personally eager to finalise a deal for the England international.

Rogers scored 10 goals and provided six assists in the Premier League for Aston Villa last season, while he won the Europa League Player of the Season award after playing an instrumental role in their eventual victory in the competition.

The Englishman signed a new long-term contract at Villa Park last November, valid until 2031, but it’s understood that he is open to leaving the club before the end of the summer transfer window, with Arsenal currently the frontrunners for his signature.

The Gunners already have Eberechi Eze, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, Mikel Merino and academy starlet Ethan Nwaneri as attacking midfield options, but Rogers is viewed as a key target by Arteta, while his ability to play as a left winger is also attractive considering the uncertain futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

The Daily Mail now report that Arsenal are using Rice, who joined the club for €116.6 million in 2023, to help convince Rogers to complete a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer.

It’s claimed that Rice has been “working away on Rogers, hoping to help influence his decision,” while fellow Gunners stars Bukayo Saka, Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze are also in the England camp and could perform a similar role if required.

Arsenal and Chelsea both reportedly believe that Rogers will be available for a fee of just under €100m, although Aston Villa’s asking price could feasibly be impacted by how much Manchester City are eventually forced to pay for Nottingham Forest star Elliot Anderson.

In addition to Rogers, Arsenal are also interested in signing Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, Club Brugge winger Christos Tzolis and Bournemouth midfielder Alex Scott, while Paris Saint-Germain forward Bradley Barcola has been linked too.

What has Morgan Rogers said?

While there is significant transfer speculation regarding his future, Rogers recently admitted that he isn’t concerned by the noise as he looks to help England win the World Cup for the second time.

When asked on The Rest Is Football if he was affected by the speculation over his club future, Rogers said: “I think the first time it ever happened, it was.

“You are in an uncomfortable spot of not realising that people have so much interest in you and you're not quite realising it but, as you get older and you are getting experience along the way, you know that comes with it and that 95 percent of it is just noise.

“You hear it of course you do, you can't help not. You know it is there but you have got to use it as a positive way. You just try and get on with your game and just focus.”