Why Arsenal's Morgan Rogers confidence has grown 'significantly' as Aston Villa brace for bid
Arsenal are reportedly finally ready to test Aston Villa's resolve on Morgan Rogers.
It's been the transfer story defining Aston Villa's summer transfer window so far, as it was always expected to do so.
The Gunners' interest in Rogers is of no secret to anyone, but as of right now, Villa Park chiefs haven't yet had any offer to work with.
Rogers' current focus will purely be on helping England finally bring football home again at the World Cup, as the Three Lions prepare for a quarter-final clash with Norway on Saturday.
All the while he's been across the pond, however, talk of his Villa exit has continued to rumble on.
However, that talk may be about to change to action, as the Premier League champions are now poised to firm up their long-held interest.
What has now been said about Morgan Rogers to Arsenal?
Will he or won't he? That's the question Arsenal and Aston Villa fans have been constantly asking themselves regarding Rogers this summer.
And, according to a fresh report from TEAMtalk, the answer to that question may well lie in the former of those two possibilities.
They claim that Arsenal are now readying their first official approach for Rogers, believing they've made "significant" progress in discussions with his representatives.
It's reported that Arsenal chiefs have been working hard for a number of weeks now to make a breakthrough over a deal, and now it's said that they feel as though they're in a position to take their interest up a notch.
The report claims that they've been informed by sources that the Gunners feel good about the Emirates being Rogers' first choice destination this summer.
Arsenal are reported to be at the front of the long queue to acquire his services, and that there is a growing feeling inside Villa Park that he will be sold eventually, but not unless they bank a record-breaking fee.
That would not just be an Aston Villa transfer record, but indeed one that would make Rogers the most expensive English player of all time, which would need to be more than the £116million Man City have just paid for Elliot Anderson.
Aston Villa may already have Rogers' replacement in-house
Upon signing from Championship side Middlesbrough in the winter of 2024, even Unai Emery surely didn't think Rogers would be in the English transfer record conversation in two-and-a-half seasons at Villa Park.
Such is the speed of his development, the 23-year-old does indeed appear to have a very good chance of becoming exactly that this summer, in what would put a full stop on arguably Villa's greatest ever piece of transfer business.
Of course, his departure if/when it happens will be met with sadness by the Villa Park faithful, as he's evidently a top-class player and one that has been a joy to watch in the West Midlands.
But, irreplaceable he may not be, and in fact, Emery may already have his successor in waiting in the form of Lewis Dobbin.
The immediate reaction from some fans may be to roll their eyes at that, but they really shouldn't, as the 23-year-old forward just bagged 10 goals and eight assists in 39 Championship games for Preston last season.
For context, Rogers had netted twice and provided six assists from 26 Championship appearances for Middlesbrough by the time Villa came calling.
Both young forwards share a similar profile too, being powerful and deadly ball-carrying attackers who can find the net with power and technique from anywhere in and around the box.
Like Rogers, Dobbin also has bags of playmaking ability, as well as having excellent close control and can play in tight spaces.
If you were to watch the two side-by-side, the similarities would become even more striking, so another Rogers-esque success story in the shape of Dobbin may be considerably less far-fetched than many might think.