Chelsea have firmly set their sights on Aston Villa’s youthful star, Morgan Rogers, valued at around £80 million, as the club’s primary target for the remainder of the summer window. With big signings like Joao Pedro, Liam Delap, and Jamie Gittens already joining, Chelsea are nonetheless ready to invest heavily to secure Rogers’ signature. His standout contributions last season—Dozens of goal involvements and international recognition—have elevated his market value and made him an attractive prospect for teams in rebuild mode
Despite Chelsea’s ambition, Villa appear resistant to a sale. Manager Unai Emery has reportedly placed Rogers among the untouchables this summer and is eager to design the team’s future around the emerging English midfielder. The club is keen to retain him, though underlying financial constraints—especially around Premier League and UEFA Profit & Sustainability Rules—may leave them little choice if other key players, such as Ollie Watkins, Emi Martinez, or Leon Bailey, cannot be sold for enough
One intriguing dimension is Chelsea’s interest in Nicolas Jackson—who Emery previously coached at Villarreal—which could prompt a domino effect. Reports suggest that if Villa launch a bid for Jackson, Chelsea would respond with a formal offer for Rogers almost immediately. However, a direct swap is off the table: Financial accounting regulations favor separating the deals into pure cash transactions .
Both clubs are under pressure to manage their finances carefully. Chelsea recently received financial sanctions and risk restrictions around registering new signings in European competitions unless they balance their books. Meanwhile Villa, facing revenue shortfalls without Champions League qualification, may be forced to cash in on Rogers to fund reinvestment in squad depth—especially if other high-value departures don’t materialize .
Given the financial and sporting stakes for both sides, this transfer saga is likely to unfold into August. If Emery remains steadfast in protecting his rising midfielder and Rogers does not request an exit, Chelsea’s plans could be derailed. But if other Villa assets aren’t sold for significant fees, Rogers might become the key to unlocking Villa’s next phase while providing Chelsea with a transformative creative spark
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