Arsenal Roundtable has been told Morgan Rogers prefers Arsenal, with informal contact in place over a potential deal.
Morgan Rogers has given preference to joining Arsenal if he leaves Aston Villa, HandofArsenal has told ArsenalRoundtable.
The Aston Villa attacker continues to draw interest from elsewhere, but those clubs are already aware that Arsenal is where Rogers would like to end up.
Rogers has also respectfully communicated his desire to leave to senior figures at Villa, with Arsenal now monitoring whether that situation can develop into a deal.
No formal agreement is in place, and the fee remains central to the entire deal. But ArsenalRoundtable has been told that the player is fully on board with the idea of joining Mikel Arteta’s side.
Personal terms have already been explored and are not expected to be a hindrance.
What puts Arsenal in the driving seat is Rogers’ belief in Arteta’s project and the plan set out for him. The 23-year-old is convinced by the pathway on offer at a club preparing to defend their Premier League title and push on in Europe.
Rogers was on Arsenal’s radar last summer when the club looked at attacking reinforcements, so this interest is nothing new. The recruitment team has tracked his progress for some time, and that background is now coming into play as Andrea Berta surveys the market.
There is no formal transfer negotiation yet, and Arsenal have not reached the stage of making an official move. But lines of communication exist, and the situation is active enough for Berta to want to be kept fully informed.
HandofArsenal has told ArsenalRoundtable that Berta has asked to be kept updated on any other club making a move for Rogers.
Arsenal are in a strong, if delicate, position. Rogers’ preference is clear, personal terms are not expected to be an issue, and Villa know where he stands. Chelsea and Manchester United have both shown interest, but the player’s current preference gives Arsenal an advantage if they decide to act.
The fee is the key part of the deal.
Villa are under no pressure to sell one of their brightest attacking talents on the cheap, especially after Rogers’ progress in the Premier League. The Gunners now have to weigh up how far they are willing to go for a player who ticks several boxes for them.
Rogers brings power, ball-carrying ability, versatility and end product across the front line. He can play wide, drive through the middle and offers Arsenal another option to break defensive lines with the ball at his feet.
That profile is exactly why Arsenal looked at him last summer, and why their interest has not faded.
Arteta already has top-class attacking options, but Arsenal want to keep competition high across the front line after their title win. Rogers would add another Premier League-proven player to the mix, with the physical and technical qualities to fit right in.
Arsenal have the player’s preference, according to HandofArsenal. They have explored personal terms. They are aware that other clubs remain in the race. Berta wants to be kept across any movement elsewhere.
The next step is whether Arsenal choose to turn their position into a formal bid.
If they do, the fee will determine how realistic a deal is.
