Aston Villa are intent on keeping Morgan Rogers this summer and will only consider a sale for ‘well above £100 million,’ according to reports.
The 23-year-old has had two-and-a-half very impressive seasons with the Villains, scoring 14 goals from midfield in each of his two full campaigns with the club.
His performances have impressed England boss Thomas Tuchel and he has racked up 13 caps for his country, hoping to add more over the rest of the World Cup.
Rogers has also caught the eye of a number of big clubs, with Arsenal and Chelsea credited with the most significant interest in the former Manchester City player.
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Villa are back in the Champions League next season after winning the Europa League at the climax of the last campaign, so they are keen on keeping their best players and to kick on under Unai Emery.
It had been thought Villa would accept around £85m for him, but the Daily Mail report that Villa’s owners intend to reject any approach for Rogers, unless an offer reaches ‘well above £100m.’
Premier League clubs have been successfully digging their heels in and demanding enormous transfer fees for midfielders in recent years.
Declan Rice went from West Ham to Arsenal for over £100m, as did Moises Caicedo from Brighton to Chelsea.
Manchester City are expected to pay around £120m for Nottingham Forest’s Elliot Anderson this summer, likely to beat Manchester United to the England star.
The Aston Villa owners see Rogers in the same bracket and want more than the £100m they received from Manchester City for Jack Grealish in 2021, if they are to sell Rogers.
The England star signed a new contract at Villa Park in November last year, which keeps him at the club until 2031, so the Villains are under little pressure to sell on that front.
However, Villa are regularly up against it when it comes to financial regulations and may need to sell to strengthen, which could see them tempted into a sale of their prized asset.
Club and country teammate Ollie Watkins said of Rogers: ’Morgan can go to the very top. You’ve seen what he can do in a short space of time in 18 months, how he’s developed and started to perform at the top, top level which has got him all the recognition he deserves.
‘I think he’s got his head on his shoulders at the end of the day, he’s an intelligent guy who is hardworking and confidence in his own ability and I think he can go to the very top. He speaks for himself.’
The same Daily Mail report states that Villa are interest in Arsenal and Brazil forward Gabriel Martinelli, although a move remains unlikely.
Emery worked with Martinelli during his short stint in charge of the Gunners and remains a fan of the wide man.
However, with Villa aware of financial restraints, the wages Martinelli would demand mean a deal is not likely to be done.