Arsenal have identified Morgan Rogers as their top priority this summer, and the club is expected to make a formal offer to Aston Villa in the coming days. The 23-year-old England attacker is coming off a standout season where he was named Europa League Player of the Tournament after helping Unai Emery’s side beat Freiburg in the final and clinch a Champions League spot.
Rogers is a versatile No.10 who can also play out on the left wing, and that flexibility is a big part of why Mikel Arteta wants him. According to sources close to the situation, Rogers is open to moving to north London and personal terms aren’t expected to be a problem. Villa obviously sees him as a core piece though, and they’d prefer to keep him around for their own Champions League run in 2026-27.
He’s currently in the United States with England’s World Cup squad, coming off the bench in both group stage games against Croatia and Ghana. That international exposure isn’t hurting his value either.
Arsenal’s interest in Rogers isn’t new. Chelsea had him on their radar before, but the Gunners have moved to the front of the line. Whether Villa actually sells is another question. They don’t need the money, and losing a player of his caliber right before a Champions League campaign would hurt.
Arsenal also closing in on 16-year-old winger Jeremy Monga
While Rogers is the headline target, Arsenal are still negotiating with Leicester for teenage winger Jeremy Monga. The 16-year-old has been on the club’s radar for a while, and talks are ongoing. If the two sides can’t agree on a fee, it would go to a tribunal, but there’s growing confidence at the Emirates that a deal in the region of £10 million can be done.
Midfield options and the Alvarez situation
Rogers isn’t the only name on Arsenal’s list. The club is also looking for a midfielder, a full-back, and possibly another forward. They’ve had talks about Ayyoub Bouaddi, the 18-year-old Moroccan who impressed at the World Cup. Lille wants at least £60 million for him, and there’s competition from all over Europe.
And then there’s Julian Alvarez. He publicly said Monday he wants out of Atletico Madrid and is pushing for Barcelona. But Atletico doesn’t want to sell to a direct rival, and they’ve pointed to his €500 million release clause as a fence. Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta both love Alvarez and see him as the ideal striker signing. Arsenal kicked the tires last summer before going with Viktor Gyokeres instead. Now Berta has made initial checks on Alvarez’s situation again.
Atletico would actually prefer to sell Alvarez to a club outside Spain, which opens the door for Arsenal if Barcelona backs off. There’s been some chatter about Gyokeres being part of a swap deal, but nothing formal has happened there yet. Atletico tried to sign Gyokeres themselves last summer before he chose Arsenal, and they still want him.
For now, Arsenal is unlikely to make a real push for Alvarez while he’s fixated on Barcelona. But if that door closes, don’t be surprised if they step in fast.
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