Summary

  • Arsenal have identified Morgan Rogers as one of their key summer targets.
  • Aston Villa value the England international around the £100 million mark.
  • Can Arsenal justify the nine-figure fee to strengthen their title winning squad?
  • Former Villa defender Alan Hutton believes Rogers is too crucial to let go from this Villa side.

Arsenal's pursuit of Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers has hit a major obstacle after the Premier League champions were reportedly informed it would take a staggering £100 million to prise the England international away from Villa Park.

Fresh from another Premier League triumph, Mikel Arteta is already looking ahead. The Spaniard knows standing still is not an option for if Arsenal are to remain at the summit of English football while finally also conquering Europe. Strengthening the squad is a priority, but is Rogers the player worth breaking the bank for?

Villa hold the negotiating power here, Arsenal's pursuit has suddenly become one of the defining stories of the summer transfer window thus far and with a long time ago until the window shuts, things are going to get interesting.

Why Aston Villa Won't Sell Morgan Rogers Easily

If Arsenal were hoping to negotiate a bargain, Aston Villa have quickly put those hopes to bed.

According to football.london, Rogers has emerged as one of Areteta's preferred targets thanks to his versatility, athletecism and ability to carry the ball with ease through midfield. Villa's response has been clear, they are in no rush to make a deal happen.

Why would they be?

The England international who is contracted until 2031, has become one of Unai Emery's most trusted and crucial players, as he continues to go from strength to strength every season. There is little incentive for Villa to cash in unless an extrodinary offer lands on the table.

Is Rogers Really Worth This £100 Million Price Tag?

Former Aston Villa defender Alan Hutton certainly believes Rogers is worth every penny.

To him Rogers is far from ordinary, he is the player that makes Aston Villa tick.

Speaking to PariumX, Hutton Said: "I mean, if Villa were to sell, the figure I would go with is £100m, For one, I don't want to sell him. I mean, he's a massive asset for them. He's a massive part of what they do. He's under contract, and Emery loves him. He can play in a number of positions, and for me, he's the link from the midfield to the attack."

It is a valuation that may raise eyebrows, but perhaps it reflects today's transfer market. Young, homegrown, versatile England internationals are among football's most valuable commodities, with Rogers fitting that profile perfectly.

Just look at gigantic price tag Man City agreed to for Elliot Anderson at £116 million, just crazy. It was not too long ago that both Rogers and Elliot Anderson were on loan at Bristol Rovers and Lincoln City, now look at them. Both could potentially go for £100 million by the ender for the summer. How time flies.

What Makes Morgan Rogers One Of England's Most Exciting Midfielders

Every elite teams needs someone capable of turning defender into attack in an instant.

That is exactly where Rogers excels.

Whether drifting in from the left, operating behind Ollie Watkins or driving through as a box-to-box midfielders, the 23 year-old has the rare ability to glide past opponents and commit defenders before finishing off chances himself or creating chances for his teammates.

For Arteta, those qualities could add another dimension to an Arsenal side already packed with technical brilliance and quality.

Hutton believes that is exactly why Rogers has become indispensable.

"When you look at Tielemans, Kamara and these kinds of guys who bring the ball forward from defence and give it to the likes of Morgan Rogers, I always feel you need someone who can dribble. You need a ball carrier. Somebody that can get you up the pitch, whether he plays in a 10 or from the left. He's always involved in everything that's good, and he's the guy that brings it all together for me."

When former players now watching on speak so passionately about your importance, it tells you everything about your influence as a player.

Will Arsenal Pay Aston Villa's £100m Asking Price?

The biggest obstacle is no longer identifying the right player. It is agreeing to this price tag.

Arsenal have shown the willingness to spend heavily when they believe a signing can transform a squad. Declan Rice proved exactly that. Could Rogers become that next statement arrival? Or will they be put of by the colossal fee?

These are the questions Arteta and Andrea Berta must answer over the coming weeks.

One thing, however, appears beyond doubt, Aston Villa have drawn their line in the sand.

The battle for Morgan Rogers is only just beginning, but unless Arsenal are prepared to spend big, Villa's brightest star looks set to continue lighting up Villa Park under Unai Emery's watchful eye.

Whether this story gathers pace or quietly fades away remains to be seen, but its is certainly one to keep a keen eye on as the transfer window unfolds this summer.