Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers has insisted he remains focused despite transfer speculation linking him with Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea. Mikel Arteta's side are understood to be one of the sides most keen on securing the England international as they seek to bolster their attacking options.
Sources have told BirminghamLive's sister title in the capital, football.london, that the Gunners are exploring a potential move for Rogers ahead of what promises to be an ambitious summer in north London. The attacking midfielder has been linked with a switch to Arsenal for some time, with Arteta's side anticipated to strengthen ahead of their Premier League title defence next season.
And the 23-year-old has now addressed the transfer rumours. Speaking on the Rest is Football podcast, Rogers has maintained that the speculation will not distract him as he prepares to represent England at this summer's World Cup finals in North America.
He said: "I think the first time it ever happened, you are in an uncomfortable spot of not realising that people have so much interest in you and you're not quite realising it. But as you get older and you are getting experience along the way, you know that comes with it. Ninety-five per cent of it is just noise, you hear it of course you do, you can't help not. You know it is there but you have got to use it as a positive way. You have got to get on with your game and just focus."
Recent reports from The Athletic suggest that Rogers is not actively seeking a departure from Villa Park this summer. Nevertheless, there is said to be a growing acknowledgement that the time could be right for him to seek a new challenge elsewhere.
It is claimed that Villa could demand as much as £100million for Rogers this summer. The West Midlands club are reportedly using the same fee agreed for Jack Grealish when he departed Villa for Manchester City in the summer of 2021 as their benchmark.
Villa's bargaining position has been significantly bolstered by their qualification for next season's Champions League under Unai Emery, with the Claret and Blues finishing fourth in the Premier League following their Europa League win.
This is far from the first time Rogers' future has come under scrutiny, with the forward having been linked with a move away from Villa Park last summer too. It has been reported that Emery urged Rogers to remain at the club for at least one more season, a request the player is said to have agreed to.
Rogers' situation is further complicated by a sell-on clause held by Middlesbrough. The Championship outfit inserted a 20 per cent sell-on clause into the deal that took him to Villa for an initial £8m, plus up to £7m more in add-ons. That clause looks set to drive up Villa's asking price.
Addressing transfer speculation surrounding Rogers' future last month, Emery said that the player was concentrating on the task at hand. The 54-year-old said: "He is focused. He is here with us for two years, and he is being consistent. He is playing consistently and demanding. As well, he knows how he is getting his progress and how the team needs him playing in different positions. He is versatile, playing on the left or in the number 10 as a second striker. He can play good or bad on the left side, or play good or bad in the middle or on the right."
