Transfer exclusive: Aston Villa make massive call on Rogers future

Rogers celebrates scoring against Tottenham

Morgan Rogers is returning to top form at Aston Villa and the club are keen to ensure he does not become one of the major narratives of the January transfer window.

Rogers scored a great goal in the 2-1 win over Tottenham Hotspur to add to two assists he had picked up just before the international break.

Rogers, 23, was a top performer at Villa Park last season but his form dipped in the early weeks of this season, as the team struggled to find their feet.

But a return to his best ability has led to fresh speculation over his future, with Chelsea now being linked in particular.

Sources have intimated for some time that Rogers is indeed a player that is on Chelsea’s scouting radar.

Over the summer Villa were holding a hard stance that Rogers is not for sale, and insiders hinted that he would be valued at around the 3100million mark.

Rogers' recent stats

Part of that was to scare off suitors - and it worked - with Tottenham Hotspur also making inroads but then backing away.

Now the rumours are coming back to life but Villa’s position on the deal is unchanged.

It is believed that he is the player they would be least interested in selling ... even at an extremely high fee.

Eventually their position on this is going to be tested, because it seems true that Chelsea are not going to disappear and others may join in the chase. And, eventually, he will leave.

Realistically the only way this deal could seriously come about in January would be for the player to push for a move, but that is not expected to happen.

So the summer time might prove to be a more likely time to consider a change of clubs - and a time when Villa cash in for a small fortune.

Rogers is under contract with Aston Villa until June 2030 and is well positioned to make the England squad for next summer’s World Cup. It means his current club are in a strong position to hold onto him for now, and also back-up the reasons for their high valuation.

His goal at the weekend is a reminder of just how decisive he can be in big moments, and because of that the rumours are not going away any time soon.

Dean Jones