Morgan Rogers linked with £80m Aston Villa exit as interest grows

January 16, 2026 Oliver Obel

Aston Villa’s emergence as a consistent Premier League contender has come with an inevitable side effect: increased scrutiny of their standout performers. As the summer transfer window approaches, Morgan Rogers is becoming one of the names most closely watched across the market.

The 23-year-old forward joined Villa from Middlesbrough in 2024 for a reported £8 million, a move that initially attracted little fanfare. Since then, his development under Unai Emery has been gradual but decisive, turning him into a regular starter and an England international.

Rogers’ numbers underline that progress. He has scored 25 goals in 99 appearances for Villa across all competitions, while the 2025/26 campaign has brought eight goals and six assists from 29 matches. More significant than the raw output has been his versatility and reliability, traits that have increased his value in a market shaped by Premier League spending power and profit-and-sustainability regulations.

Growing speculation, no bids yet

Reports linking Rogers with elite clubs including Liverpool, Manchester City, Real Madrid and Chelsea have gathered momentum, though no formal offers have been made public. At this stage, the discussion remains speculative rather than transactional, driven by performance trends rather than concrete negotiations.

Former Aston Villa and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore believes Rogers’ career history suggests he would be open to another move if the right opportunity emerged. Speaking to GOAL, via BetWright betting, Collymore said:

“I worry as a Villa fan that when an opportunity has arisen for him to go, he goes.”

Collymore pointed to Rogers’ earlier decision to leave Manchester City’s academy setup for regular senior football as evidence of a player willing to prioritise development and ambition over status.

Valuation shaped by the wider market

Any potential deal would come at a significant price. Collymore suggested that Villa’s own financial considerations could influence how they respond to interest, particularly given the constraints imposed by PSR compliance.

“I wouldn't be at all surprised if Villa are fielding offers of 70, 80, plus add-ons, plus players going the other way because Villa obviously need players because of PSR compliance,” he said.

Such figures would place Rogers among the most expensive English attackers of his age, reflecting both inflation in the Premier League market and the premium placed on homegrown talent.

Ambition and timing

Collymore also referenced a recent interview in which Rogers was asked to choose between finishing in the top four or winning a trophy. The player’s response “FA Cup because I want to win a trophy, I haven’t won one yet” was cited as an insight into his priorities.

In Collymore’s view, that ambition narrows the list of realistic destinations. He named Manchester City, Chelsea and Manchester United as the most likely options, while also mentioning Arsenal as a potential fit depending on circumstances.

For now, Villa remain under no immediate pressure to sell, and Rogers’ future is unresolved. What is clear is that his steady rise has shifted him from a low-cost acquisition to a high-value asset the kind that inevitably attracts attention when elite clubs begin planning their next moves.

Sources: GOAL, BetWright