Arsenal are set to accelerate their interest in Morgan Rogers, and the fee being discussed is already moving into serious money. Aston Villa value him at £100m, while the 23-year-old England international also posted 14 goals and 12 assists last season. That is the sort of output that turns a target into a major financial decision.
Villa's price and the Middlesbrough clause
Villa have made it clear that Rogers is not for sale and remains central to their plans ahead of their Champions League return. Even if that stance softens, the structure of any deal would still be awkward for Arsenal. Villa may have to pay 20% of the profit from Rogers's sale to Middlesbrough, which raises the bar on what they would need to accept.
The reported valuation is already doing most of the work here. Arsenal can admire the profile all they like, but a £100m number changes the conversation quickly, especially for a player who is already producing at a high level.
Bouaddi is the other expensive option
Arsenal have also held internal talks regarding Ayyoub Bouaddi. The Lille midfielder is the seventh youngest player at this year’s World Cup, and he became the youngest player to reach 50 Ligue 1 appearances in January 2026.
His price point is no bargain either. Lille are asking about £60m, which shows Arsenal are looking at elite young talent rather than cheap depth. Rogers remains the bigger name and the more immediate fit for a marquee move, but both targets point in the same direction, Arsenal are shopping at the top end of the market rather than trying to find a cut-price alternative.
Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →