Arsenal expected to make approach for No 1 target Rogers

Arsenal have made Morgan Rogers their top forward target this summer and an approach to Aston Villa is now expected.

Sky Sports News understands there have been no club-to-club talks between Arsenal and Villa yet but interest in Rogers is set to intensify following England's World Cup exit and after a £34m deal for Christos Tzolis was agreed.

Rogers' transfer is expected to cost more than £100m given the deals that have already been done in this window for midfielders such as Elliot Anderson and Sandro Tonali.

Unai Emery's side have made it clear they do not want to sell Rogers and they are in a strong negotiating position after the forward signed a new contract, running until 2031, last November.

Why Arsenal have made Rogers their top target

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Manchester United, Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain are also interested in the forward.

The 23-year-old scored 14 goals and added 11 assists in 55 appearances for Villa last season.

Since joining from Middlesbrough in a deal worth £16m in 2024, Rogers has quickly risen from young prospect to a fully fledged England international, with 21 caps to his name already.

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He made five of those appearances during the 2026 World Cup and provided the assist to Anthony Gordon during England's semi-final defeat to Argentina.

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Analysis: Can Rogers actually be a left winger?

Sky Sports' Sam Blitz:

Given Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze are also at the club, Arsenal are thinking of Rogers as a wide option.

With Tzolis on his way to and Leandro Trossard departing, Mikel Arteta is looking to improve their left-hand side this summer and trying to get the England man as part of that change.

But after making a name for himself as an attacking midfielder, which also saw him challenge Jude Bellingham for England's No 10 spot, is actually he a left winger?

The numbers would suggest that he can turn out in that role without a problem. Last season, around 45 per cent of his Premier League minutes for Villa came as a left winger.

Unai Emery's fluid system behind Ollie Watkins involved other attacking midfielders in Emiliano Buendia and John McGinn, so Rogers got his fair share of experience out wide.

Rogers has ultimately proven to be a very flexible player during his career. He was a winger at Lincoln City, was occasionally used as a false nine and centre-forward option at Middlesbrough - and also turned out as a right winger in England's World Cup semi-final defeat to Argentina, where he assisted Anthony Gordon's goal.

At 23, Rogers is still at an age where he can still be coached into new skills and attributes. So there should be no reason why the England international cannot make that left-wing spot his own.

Arsenal remain interested in Alvarez - but deal is difficult

Arsenal remain interested in Julian Alvarez but a deal looks difficult to do, especially given the family's preference to remain living in Spain and Alvarez's wish to join Barcelona.

Another forward Arsenal retain an interest in is PSG's Bradley Barcola, along with Liverpool.

Again, there has been no club-to-club contact between Arsenal and PSG - but the conditions of a deal have been explored.

PSG do not want to sell Barcola but his future is one to keep an eye on depending on the moves PSG make in the window.

They have been actively trying to sign winger Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig and also have interest in Alvarez and Rogers.