Morgan Rogers shares Ezri Konsa image in new Aston Villa message
Aston Villa are still in battle to retain star players like Morgan Rogers this summer after missing out on the Champions League.
Unai Emery‘s side were hit by final-day heartbreak last term, suffering a controversial 2-0 loss at Old Trafford which has had huge ramifications for this summer’s transfer business ahead of the new season.
Losing out on Champions League football to Newcastle United by way of goal difference has left Villa in a precarious position when it comes to their PSR, and that has cast doubt over several of their key players.
Rogers has emerged as the jewel in Emery’s crown this summer with a £100million price tag quoted by Aston Villa amid interest from Chelsea, and it remains to be seen if he’ll still be in claret and blue next season.
Konsa and Rogers ready for packed Aston Villa schedule
Villa missing out on the Champions League was softened by the fact that they’ll play in Emery’s specialist tournament, the Europa League next season, but that will mean the Spaniard’s squad is stretched thin.
With 38 Premier League games to play and a further 10 at least across their European and domestic cup schedules, Emery’s players will have very little time to rest as uncertainty lingers over the likes of Rogers.
That packed schedule has been compounded by nine pre-season friendlies as Villa prepare to travel to the USA and play three of their remaining six, against Eintracht Frankfurt, St. Louis City and Nashville SC.
Rogers posted on his Instagram story (21 July) alongside Ezri Konsa in Villa’s gym ahead of their next set of friendlies, tagging the England defender and including a ‘love heart’ emoji.
Rogers saga set to continue as Aston Villa brace for transfer bids
Football Insider Verdict
Rogers’ bond with his Villa team-mate suggests no sings whatsoever that he’ll try to force a move away, and Emery is “desperate” to keep both Rogers and Jacob Ramsey at Villa Park by any means necessary.
Villa have already been hit with a UEFA fine which could lead to a big-name departure this summer, but their £100m price tag on Rogers’ head has so far deterred interested clubs from making formal offers.
Ramsey, Rogers, Ollie Watkins and Emi Martinez could yet be plucked from a cash-strapped Villa this summer, but it’s clear that those key players are in no mood to disrupt what Emery has built at Villa Park.