Unai Emery to 'block Morgan Rogers joining Arsenal' after Aston Villa twist - Insider
Unai Emery is determined to keep hold of Morgan Rogers this summer and will not entertain talks over a move away from Aston Villa.
Despite suggestions that Villa could be forced to sell in a bid to raise funds, the board are fearful of backlash from Emery and the fanbase if they allow him to leave.
As a result, former Aston Villa scout Mick Brown told Football Insider that a "huge" asking price has been placed on Rogers in an attempt to deter his growing list of suitors.
Reports have claimed Villa will demand as much as £130million to sell the England international this summer, and that fee could grow if he shines at the World Cup.
Emery is pushing for Villa to keep hold of their best players as he aims to build on last season's Europa League success by going deep into domestic competitions and the Champions League.
Could Arsenal make a move for Morgan Rogers?
Football Insider revealed on 26 June that Arsenal will attempt to test Aston Villa's resolve over Rogers and are expected to table an opening offer in the coming days.
The England international has been identified as Arsenal's top target for the summer window, with many tipping him to make a big-money move to the Emirates.
However, any deal will have to be on Villa's terms, and Emery is determined to block any move for his star man as he remains part of his ambitious plans.
"The manager does not want to let Rogers leave, regardless of the circumstances," Brown told Football Insider.
"It's easy to look from outside and say selling him would allow them to spend more money on the squad, but it would also mean weakening the squad they've already got.
"Emery wants to build on what they've done in Europe this season, he wants to win more silverware and be more competitive domestically and in the Champions League.
"Keeping Morgan Rogers at Villa will give them the best chance of doing that, so it would take a huge fee to even think about letting him go, and even then it's unlikely.
"Aston Villa are aware that, if they let him go, they'll have an unhappy manager on their hands and I can't imagine the supporters would react very well either.
"So they'll be keen to avoid that backlash, to keep the manager happy, and hopefully to keep Morgan Rogers at Aston Villa, blocking any move, so he can play a role in helping them to improve".
How does Rogers feel about leaving Aston Villa?
Aston Villa remain determined to prevent Rogers leaving, but while interest from the Premier League's top clubs continues to grow, questions have been asked of the player's intentions.
Arsenal will be hopeful that they can turn the attacking midfielder's head, which could help them to prise him away from Villa Park despite the club's resolute stance.
Former Villa scout Bryan King told Football Insider on 24 June that Rogers could be tempted to join Arsenal as he is concerned about missing out on a big move.
Should the Gunners formalise their interest, there are concerns that anxiety over Rogers' future could grow and potentially make his position difficult.
Rogers is under contract at Villa Park until 2031, and Villa are under no obligation to sell him, but should he express a desire to move on, it may alter the situation.