Aston Villa may have secured a British-record £117m fee for Morgan Rogers, but replacing the England international will require more than promoting one player into Unai Emery’s starting side.
Rogers is set to join Chelsea after the clubs reached an agreement, with his medical scheduled for Monday.
The fee represents extraordinary business for Villa, who signed him from Middlesbrough for an initial £7m in February 2024. Yet the financial success does not reduce the size of the sporting loss.
Rogers supplied goals, creativity, physical power and positional flexibility. He could begin on the left, operate behind Ollie Watkins or carry the ball through midfield when Villa needed to escape pressure.
Villa must replace several qualities rather than simply filling one position.
Buendia cannot carry the full Rogers burden
Emiliano Buendia is the most obvious internal replacement.
The Argentine can play from the left or behind the striker and enjoyed an encouraging return to prominence last season. His six Premier League goals provided evidence that he can still influence matches under Emery.
Buendia offers imagination in crowded areas and can combine effectively with Watkins. He does not provide the same power or ball-carrying ability as Rogers, however.
Rogers regularly turned defensive situations into attacks by driving through challenges. Villa could give him possession inside their own half and trust him to move the team up the pitch.
According to FotMob’s Premier League data, Rogers recorded 10 goals and six assists across 3,285 league minutes last season.
His output was only part of his importance. Rogers also gave Emery the freedom to change shape without making a substitution.
John McGinn and Ross Barkley can cover the central role, while Buendia can provide creativity. None offers a complete like-for-like solution.
Manzambi can replace part of Rogers’ influence
Johan Manzambi’s arrival gives Villa an exciting option through the middle.
The Switzerland international can operate as an advanced midfielder and arrives following an excellent World Cup. His movement, athleticism and ability to progress possession fit Emery’s approach.
As Read Aston Villa reported after his arrival, Manzambi joined in a club-record package worth up to £59.5m.
The 20-year-old could eventually inherit Rogers’ central role. Villa should not expect him to replace one of the Premier League’s most productive attackers immediately.
Rogers had already experienced English football before joining Villa and still required time to become an automatic starter. Manzambi will need to adapt to a new league, country and tactical system.
His signing gives Emery a high-upside solution behind Watkins. Villa still need a player capable of starting from the left and producing consistently.
Villa must reinvest in another starting attacker
The £117m agreement gives Villa considerable room to act, even after Middlesbrough receive their share through a sell-on clause.
A specialist winger should now become the priority.
Crysencio Summerville has been monitored by Villa and can play from the left before driving inside onto his stronger foot. His pace, dribbling and Premier League experience would provide qualities lost with Rogers.
However, Roma are also pushing to sign the West Ham attacker. Villa may need to move quickly if they consider him their preferred option.
The Guardian’s report on Rogers’ Chelsea agreement stated that Villa plan to reinvest following the sale.
Ibrahim Mbaye has also been linked, although signing another young talent would place further pressure on Emery to develop potential while competing in the Champions League.
Villa need someone ready to contribute now.
The ideal solution could involve Manzambi taking more responsibility centrally, Buendia providing rotation and a new winger replacing Rogers on the left.
Emery has options within his squad, but spreading Rogers’ responsibilities across several players only works if Villa add another high-level attacker.
The £117m fee protects the club financially. How Villa reinvest it will decide whether losing their attacking heartbeat becomes a setback or the start of another successful rebuild.
