Arsenal have made Morgan Rogers their top summer target, and a bid is expected soon. Aston Villa are not making the chase easy. They want Rogers involved in their Champions League campaign in the 2026-27 season and do not want to sell him cheaply.
Villa's stance and Rogers' contract
The deal is not built like a simple buyout. Rogers signed a new long-term deal in November with no release clause, according to TEAMtalk. That leaves Arsenal trying to force a negotiation rather than trigger a pre-set price.
Ben Jacobs, speaking to teamtalk.com, said: "I do expect Arsenal to sign Morgan Rogers. He is Arsenal's leading target for left-wing and/or No 10." He also added: "When Rogers extended last year, there was an understanding that he could leave this summer for a fee of £80m as a starting point."
The fee gap Arsenal must bridge
That starting point is only part of the picture. TEAMtalk says Arsenal could open talks at £80m, while Villa sources reportedly want a figure well in excess of £100m. The same reporting also says Villa have used Florian Wirtz's £116m move as a benchmark for Rogers' valuation.
There is a reason Aston Villa feel in position to dig in. They finished 4th in the Premier League and 2nd in their Europa League group, which is hardly the profile of a club under pressure to cash in. Rogers himself produced 17 goal involvements in 37 appearances in 2025-26, a level that makes Villa's stance easier to understand.
Ben Jacobs summed up the mood by saying: "I think there's a very strong chance this deal happens." The chance may be strong, but the fee gap is still wide, and Villa are clearly prepared to make Arsenal pay for it.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 3 outlets. How we work →