Former Aston Villa striker Andy Gray expects Morgan Rogers to be sought after in the summer, and insists Unai Emery will need to be “persuasive” to keep him at the club.
Rogers, who has been a standout player in the last couple of seasons, attracted interest from clubs in the Premier League last summer. Regardless of whether Villa qualifies for the Champions League or not, the 23-year-old’s future is thought to come under more speculation this year.
Having joined Villa in January 2024 in a deal worth just £15 million, Rogers’ performances since his arrival at Villa Park has caused his value to skyrocket towards the £100 million mark.
27 contributions in the previous campaign earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year award. This made him the first player since James Milner in 2010 to have won the award whilst not playing for a big 6 club.
A regular in Thomas Tuchel’s England side, Rogers numbers this year compared to his fellow compatriots make him the frontrunner for the No 10 jersey at this summer’s World Cup and with 10 goals and 7 assists in 44 games this season, he has been Villa’s star player despite their struggles in the last few months.
His physique and technical ability on the ball are rare to see. The ridiculous potential he has is why many clubs are after his signature.
Gray told BetSelect.co.uk, “Yes, of course. He has an amazing talent that others will want to get their hands on. It’ll take a lot of money to shift him.
“I think it depends on how persuasive Unai Emery can be. He’ll hopefully say to him, ‘Listen, we’re moving forward, look at the improvement we’ve made in the last two years and look where we’re playing now – we’re up in Champions League positions, we could be (in the) Champions League next year.’
“But if they can convince him that his future lies at Villa Park, that would be great. But there’s absolutely no doubt they’ll be knocking on the door for him, because he’s hugely talented.”
Can Villa hold on to him?
Securing Champions League football is paramount to keeping Rogers at Villa. Whilst there will still be interest, the Villans will be less likely to sell given the increased revenue that comes with playing in Europe’s elite competition.
He signed a new contract at the end of last year, extending his previous deal until 2031, which maintains his value and puts Villa in a secure position.
For any deal to be sanctioned by the hierarchy, quality replacements would have to be lined up, and Emery will need to be confident that those potential players could replicate his numbers.
Rogers’ “tough love” relationship with Emery and his desire to continue to succeed at Villa, alongside the deep affection for him by supporters, may persuade him to stay. He is an immensely talented player, and if he believes he can achieve the things he wants to at Villa, then there is no reason why he would leave.
From now until the end of the season, Rogers will be focusing on his football and his chances of helping England lift the World Cup. But once the tournament finishes and the season ends, his future will become a major talking point.
