Morgan Rogers looks one step closer to Arsenal switch - and Aston Villa might already have a replacement
Aston Villa appear resigned to losing Morgan Rogers this summer, and a switch to Arsenal is becoming increasingly likely.
There are absolutely no doubts about the 23-year-old's talent, nor is there about the height of his ceiling, and his transfer fee could skyrocket during the 2026 World Cup.
If the Villans really are going to lose their superstar during the summer window, they will want to squeeze the absolute most out of a transfer fee, and rightly so.
Arsenal's interest in the player has been out of the bag for months, and Mikel Arteta's side are unlikely to be the only giants chasing his signature ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.
The futures of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard both remain uncertain at the Emirates Stadium, while a lot has been made about Martin Odegaard as the club captain.
Of course, Rogers is capable of playing anywhere across the frontline, and failed moves for other superstars is only going to tunnel the Gunners towards the Villa star's signature.
Arsenal given one more reason to sign Morgan Rogers
After winning the Premier League and reaching the Champions League final, Arteta will be keen to continue pushing and improving the squad, understandably.
It is no secret that Arsenal have been long-term admirers of Juventus' Kenan Yildiz, who notched a season-best 14 goals and 10 assists in the 2025-26 campaign.
However, The Athletic (9 June) has revealed that the North London outfit have already approached the Italian giants for the winger, being informed in "no uncertain terms" that he's not for sale.
Arteta's side keep trying to sign the Turkish international, but with a push to sign Rogers this summer, it might be time to give up on a deal for Yildiz.
Unai Emery is already eyeing up a replacement for Aston Villa
Losing Rogers, even for a big fee, would be a monumental blow for the Villans after he notched 14 goals and 11 assists in 55 games this season.
Should that happen, Emery already needs to have plans in place for who could possibly bring the same energy to the middle of the park, and the Spaniard may have already found someone.
Villa are one of the many teams keeping an eye on Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White, alongside Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United.
Out of the three, Villa Park might actually be the most attractive project, even with Michael Carrick becoming the permanent manager and restoring Champions League football at Old Trafford.
Any transfer is unlikely to come at a bargain price, with the playmaker only signing a new contract last summer, but the sale of Rogers would easily cover whatever Evangelos Marinakis wants for his player.