Aston Villa are grinding their way toward the finish line, with Sunday’s frantic victory over Sunderland in the Premier League another example of the steely belief Unai Emery has instilled.
With Chelsea stuck in a rut, it’s starting to look like Villa have a clear pathway into the Champions League, fourth in the standings and ten points ahead of the Stamford Bridge side.
Emery is also hoping to secure a record-extending fifth Europa League title this season, but Villa are already looking toward the future, hungry to develop into one of the best teams in Europe.
To go that extra step, they have already earmarked a rising star who could emerge as their next Morgan Rogers.
Aston Villa join race for the new Morgan Rogers
Rogers is one of the best attacking midfielders in Europe, so it’s only natural that so many high-profile suitors should be sniffing around.
However, NSWE are going to fight tooth and nail to keep onto the Three Lions star, reportedly whacking a £120m price tag on his name.
|
Morgan Rogers’ Premier League Form |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (per 90) |
24/25 |
25/26 |
|
Matches (starts) |
37 (37) |
33 (33) |
|
Goals + Assists |
8 + 10 |
9 + 5 |
|
Touches* |
41.3 |
48.6 |
|
Shots (on target)* |
1.5 (0.5) |
2.3 (0.9) |
|
Accurate passes* |
17.6 (75%) |
22.0 (76%) |
|
Big chances created |
16 |
11 |
|
Key passes* |
1.4 |
1.3 |
|
Succ. dribbles* |
1.8 |
1.1 |
|
Ball recoveries* |
3.2 |
3.8 |
|
Tackles* |
1.2 |
1.0 |
|
Duels won* |
4.7 |
4.2 |
Signing another rising talent as talented as he will be a tough one for the Midlands outfit, but with Amadou Onana’s future uncertain, they could do with such a signing in the centre of the park.
According to TEAMtalk, Aston Villa have joined the race for Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Archie Gray, who can hold his head higher than his peers amid relegation struggles this season.
The 20-year-old is valued at £60m, though how relegation from the Premier League will affect Tottenham’s position remains to be seen. However, this is a “future £100m centre-midfielder“, according to Como scout Ben Mattinson.
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Why Archie Gray could be the next Morgan Rogers
Gray might not be hitting the same high notes as Rogers right now, but he is still so young and has already built up a hardy base after several years at Tottenham.
Gray joined from Leeds United aged 18 in a £30m package, and he is riding the crest of a wave in regard to his personal development, albeit swallowed by the sea as part of Tottenham’s wider struggle, 18th in the Premier League with a few weeks remaining.
There’s no question that Tottenham are in an imperilled position, and that Gray has had a tough time in north London, but he’s actually been one of the club’s most impressive and influential players this season, standing firm against the rushing current that threatens to drag Spurs down into the Championship.
He is a natural technician who finds joy in playmaking and getting stuck in against rushing forwards. Gray, in this, has already polished off the roundedness needed to succeed at the highest level.
It hasn’t been all doom and gloom, though, with Gray instrumental in winning the Europa League last year. Aston Villa currently have the same objective in mind, and they could be welcoming Gray afterwards to join the party.
He’s exactly what the Lions need, though whether they get it over the line remains to be seen. In any case, Gray, who was the 2023/24 Young Player of the Season in the Championship, could emulate Rogers in becoming a superstar under Emery’s wing at Aston Villa.
It’s easy to forget that he’s still so young, with Rogers actually 21 years old when he left Middlesbrough in a deal worth £8m plus add-ons.
Rogers is now a superstar, coveted by some of the top outfits across the continent. Gray is already being chased by the likes of Villa and Liverpool, and it might just be that he would be best suited to move to Emery’s project for the next stage of his career.
Aston Villa could see a £40m bid accepted to seal an Ollie Watkins repeat
Aston Villa could see an offer accepted for a leading Premier League star.
