Former Aston Villa striker Dwight Yorke has cast doubt on whether Morgan Rogers would fit into Arsenal's starting lineup, as the Premier League champions intensify their interest in the Aston Villa star. Arsenal are expected to step up their pursuit and submit a formal offer to Villa, though manager Unai Emery is unlikely to sanction a sale unless a substantial bid is received.
Record-Breaking Valuation
Club owner Nassef Sawiris is reportedly holding out for a record-breaking fee, valuing Rogers at more than the £116 million Manchester City paid for Elliot Anderson earlier this summer. This valuation underscores Villa's determination to retain their key player unless an extraordinary offer is made.
Yorke's Concerns Over Playing Time
Yorke, who played for Villa before moving to Manchester United, believes Rogers would not be an automatic starter under Mikel Arteta. “I think that if you’re looking to join a club you have to ask the question of where you fit in, because Morgan Rogers is not getting into this Arsenal team as a regular starter,” Yorke told the media. “Martin Odegaard is there and he’s the captain. Eberechi Eze isn’t a regular. It’s a fabulous squad but where is Rogers supposed to play?”
Yorke drew on his own experience when he left Villa for Manchester United. “When I left Aston Villa to go to Manchester United, the first question I asked Sir Alex Ferguson was how do you see me, and where do you see me in the team? He said he saw me as the number nine, and of course he didn’t make any guarantees, but he told me you are my nine. In other words, he handed me the shirt first. It was up to me whether I wanted to take it. I moved to United for a record fee at the time but for what? I wasn’t going to sit on the bench. When you go into this Arsenal side which already has Eze, Odegaard and Declan Rice, how do you fit into that?”
Alternative Destinations
Yorke suggested that Manchester United might be a better fit for Rogers. “Rogers has to think very carefully about it because it’s all well and good going to a club like Arsenal to win things but not if you’re going to be left on the bench. I think Morgan Rogers would have a better chance if he went to a team like Manchester United who are on the up again. He is more likely to play as a regular starter there for the fee he’d be going for.”
Swap Deal Proposal
Yorke also floated the idea of a swap deal involving Marcus Rashford, who enjoyed a loan spell under Emery in the second half of the 2024/25 campaign. “A swap deal to sign Morgan Rogers for Marcus Rashford plus cash? That would not be a bad thing, I don’t think, but it depends how Aston Villa sees it,” Yorke said.
He emphasized the importance of keeping top players for Villa's ambitions. “I think Unai Emery needs to convince him that he can stay and do the unthinkable with Villa, which is to win the Premier League. To do that you need your best players. You can’t go selling them or you’ll go backwards. If you just want to remain in the top four, fine. You can sell whoever you want. But if Villa really want to go to the next level, they should keep Rogers and still sign Rashford if he doesn’t want to stay at United. Go and get him. He’d be happy back at Villa, I’m sure, and he could make a huge difference.”
