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Morgan Rogers has played down speculation linking him with an £80m move to Arsenal, insisting he is using the transfer “noise” positively as he prepares for England’s World Cup campaign in Florida.
The Aston Villa midfielder, speaking from England’s training base in West Palm Beach, said his sole focus remains the tournament ahead, brushing aside questions about his club future. Rogers enjoyed an outstanding season, contributing ten goals and six assists while helping Villa clinch the Europa League title.
According to a report by Metro on Tuesday, June 10, 2026, Arsenal have held preliminary talks with Rogers’ camp and Mikel Arteta has placed the 23-year-old high on his summer transfer wishlist.
The newly crowned Premier League champions are believed to be willing to meet a fee exceeding £80million to sign the former Middlesbrough man from Villa Park.
However, Unai Emery remains determined to keep his key players ahead of Aston Villa’s return to Champions League football next season.
Rogers addressed the Arsenal speculation directly during an appearance on The Rest Is Football podcast, acknowledging that transfer rumours once unsettled him but no longer pose a distraction.
“I think the first time it ever happened it was. You’re in an uncomfortable spot of not realising that people have so much interest in you,” he admitted.
He added, “You hear it, course you do. You can’t help not hearing it. You know it’s there but you’ve got to use it in a positive way. You just try and get on with your game and just focus.”
Rogers also reflected on the remarkable speed of his rise through English football, having spent the 2022 World Cup on loan at Bournemouth in the Championship.
“It’s mad to see how far you can come in such a short space of time. But you’re naive in football if you don’t think things can change so quickly.
One minute you can be something and the next minute you can be gone and forgotten about. That’s the harsh reality of football,” he said, with striking candour and maturity.
Former Villa and England striker Emile Heskey urged Rogers to carefully consider whether Arsenal represents the right move for his career at this particular stage. “Would it be difficult to say no to Arsenal? Yes and no.
You have to look at who is ahead of you in both teams. He’s top of the pile at Villa, he is the main man. If he goes to Arsenal, where would he be in that pecking order?” Heskey questioned. Rogers remains contracted at Villa Park until June 2031, giving the club considerable negotiating strength this summer.
