Arsenal are pushing hard to sign Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, following a fresh update on Leandro Trossard’s future at the Emirates Stadium.
Trossard is currently in North America representing Belgium at the World Cup, but he is set to make a decision regarding his future when the tournament ends, Fabrizio Romano has revealed.
Besiktas have agreed a fee to sign the former Brighton man, who has caught the eye with his performances for Belgium, chipping in with two goals and two assists in four matches.
|
Football FanCast’s Verdict |
|
|---|---|
|
Credibility |
With Trossard in line to depart, Arsenal will need to sign a new forward, and akin to the Belgium star, Rogers is capable of playing on the left and through the middle, potentially making him a like-for-like replacement. |
|
Finances |
However, the Gunners may have to break the bank to get a deal over the line, as Aston Villa are expected to demand as much as £130m. For reference, the north Londoners’ current record signing is Declan Rice, who cost £105m. |
|
Insight |
Micah Richards has praised the Villa star for his versatility, saying: “He was sort of a striker, but now he seems more like an eight or a 10 dictating in midfield. He’s just amazing to watch. He is unbelievable. Everything that is good about Villa at this moment in time, it’s going through him.” Last season, he scored ten goals in 37 Premier League games. |
|
Impact |
Considering Besiktas have agreed a £17m package to sign Trossard, Mikel Arteta may also want to offload some other players to help fund the move, and Arsenal are prepared to cash-in on fellow forwards Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus. |
Update on Arsenal’s Morgan Rogers pursuit
According to a report from TEAMtalk, Arsenal are pushing hard to sign Rogers, as Trossard’s sale has now been fully agreed, and he has been identified as Arteta’s dream target.
The manager wants to upgrade his forward line this summer, with replacing Trossard deemed a ‘major priority’, and his side are also open to offers for Brazilian duo Martinelli and Jesus.
What Morgan Rogers has said about £130m price tag
Should any club be willing to pay £130m for the Englishman, he would become the third-most expensive signing in football history, behind Neymar at £200m and Kylian Mbappe at £165m.
However, the 23-year-old isn’t getting carried away. When asked about the huge price tag, he said: “I’m not sure that I’m worth all of that! Of course it’s nice to hear that, but I don’t let outside noise dictate me. I’m just going to keep focused and keep being the person that got me here and trying to improve. I don’t really listen to stuff like that.”
The 18-cap England international made 37 appearances in the Premier League last season, picking up ten goals and seven assists, which eclipses Trossard’s record of six goals and six assists in 31 matches.
That said, unlike Neymar and Mbappe prior to their big moves, Rogers is yet to really prove himself at the very highest level, having made just 12 Champions League appearances, so Arsenal should have major reservations about shelling out a fee in the £130m ballpark.
Agent confirms “serious” interest as Newcastle & Arsenal race for Christian Kofane
The Magpies mean business.
