Arsenal receive daunting Rogers transfer message after €144m Anderson update

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Matthew Judge | Editor

Arsenal could end up having to stump up more cash to land Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers if Elliot Anderson’s €115million-plus (£100m+) move to Manchester City goes through, according to The Telegraph.

The Gunners are looking to back Mikel Arteta in the transfer market this summer, with the club keen to sign a right-back, a versatile midfielder and a left-sided attacker, according to BBC Sport.

BBC Sport understands Arsenal are keen to sign Villa star Rogers, who is reportedly open to the move, on the back of an impressive season which saw him register 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions last season.

STATS

Morgan Rogers

AM (C), M (CL)

A. Villa

Morgan Rogers

AM (C), M (CL)

A. Villa

All Tournaments

2025/26

• 55

  Games

• 14

  Goals

• 11

  Assists

View all stats

However, The Telegraph claims Arsenal are fearing Anderson’s proposed switch to Man City could inflate the summer transfer market and therefore have a severe knock-on effect in their pursuit of Rogers.

The same publication understands Nottingham Forest will only sell Anderson if they receive an up-front fee which is close to the €144m (£125m) British record transfer fee Liverpool forked out to sign Alexander Isak last summer.

BBC Sport understands Forest turned down a second offer worth an initial €122m (£106m) rising to €138m (£120m) for Anderson last Thursday, with the 23-year-old understood to be keen to join City.

A previous report from The Telegraph understood it could take a fee of €92m (£80m) to prize Rogers away from Europa League winners Villa, but the same outlet claims that figure may rise in light of Anderson’s current valuation.

Anderson has developed a reputation as one of the finest central midfielders in the Premier League, having played a huge role in Forest avoiding relegation last season by recording four goals and as many assists in the top flight.

He also came up against Rogers in the two-legged Europa League semi-final tie between Forest and Villa last season, with Unai Emery’s side advancing through to the showpiece in Istanbul following a 4-1 aggregate victory.

Rogers and Anderson are both gearing up for England’s World Cup opener against Croatia in Arlington on Wednesday.

Anderson is expected to start in the No. 6 role for the Three Lions, though it remains to be seen whether manager Thomas Tuchel selects Rogers ahead of Jude Bellingham in the No. 10 position.

After facing Croatia, England will lock horns with Ghana on Tuesday, 23 June before wrapping up their Group L obligations with a clash against Panama four days later.