Morgan Rogers Receives Transfer Warning from Former Aston Villa Star
Former Aston Villa forward Dean Saunders has strongly advised Morgan Rogers to remain at the club and disregard transfer interest from top Premier League teams this summer. Rogers, a key asset for Villa, is reportedly attracting attention from clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea, but Saunders believes staying put is the best move for his career.
Villa's Strong Position and Rogers' Contract
Aston Villa are in a favorable position after securing Rogers with a new contract last year, which extends until 2031. Rogers joined Villa from Middlesbrough in January 2024 for an initial fee of £8 million, potentially rising to £15 million. Since his arrival, he has made 114 appearances, scoring 27 goals and providing 24 assists, showcasing his significant impact on the team.
Saunders' Critique of Potential Moves
In an interview with PariuriX.com, Saunders praised Rogers' abilities, stating, "Morgan Rogers is class. For a big man he really travels well with the ball and he is good in tight areas. He always keeps the ball and gets out of difficult situations and he can score goals as well." However, he cautioned against moves to Manchester United or Chelsea, describing United as a "graveyard" for players and questioning Chelsea's strategy.
Saunders elaborated, "Man United and Chelsea are being mentioned with Rogers, but Aston Villa are better than both of them. I wouldn't recommend him joining them. We have seen what is happening when you are moving to Man United. It is like a graveyard." He added that Chelsea's plan is not working, noting they have spent heavily but only have one world-class player, Cole Palmer.
Call for Villa's Ambition and Squad Strengthening
Saunders emphasized that Rogers should seek clarity on Villa's ambitions, suggesting the club needs to sign top players to progress. He said, "Rogers is asking Emery, who Aston Villa are planning on signing. He will say, if you want me to stay, who are we signing then? Are we shopping in Lidl or an expensive store?" Despite Financial Fair Play constraints, Saunders urged the owners to invest in quality signings to compete at higher levels.
He concluded, "I just think Rogers should stay at Aston Villa, because they are a better team than both Chelsea and Manchester United, but he has to ask the owners what the ambitions are." This advice comes as Villa continue to perform well, with Rogers playing a pivotal role in their success.
