Chelsea Prepare Record-Breaking £100m Pursuit of Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers; Chris Waddle Warns England Star Against ‘Regrettable’ Move

Chelsea prepare a record £100m bid for Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers, but Chris Waddle warns the England star against leaving Unai Emery's side.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 27, 2026, 6:13 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Football365

The £100m Battle for Villa’s Talisman

The transfer race for Morgan Rogers has escalated significantly as Chelsea prepare a "major summer push" to secure the attacking midfielder. Reports suggest that Chelsea’s co-director of recruitment, Joe Shields—a long-time admirer of Rogers since his youth career—is driving the pursuit. To prize Rogers away from the Midlands, Chelsea would likely have to break Aston Villa’s club-record sale of £100 million, set by Jack Grealish in 2021. While Arsenal and Liverpool are also reportedly tracking the player, Chelsea are understood to be the most advanced in their pursuit, viewing Rogers as a transformative addition to their attacking line.

A Sensational 2025–26 Campaign

Rogers’ skyrocketing valuation is backed by a clinical season under Unai Emery. The playmaker has registered 8 goals and 5 assists in 31 Premier League appearances, serving as the creative engine for a Villa side currently sitting 4th in the table and on track for Champions League qualification. His durability has been equally impressive; while teammates like Ollie Watkins and Jadon Sancho have been rotated, Rogers has been an almost ever-present fixture in the starting XI. This consistency has seen his market value soar from the £15 million Villa paid in 2024 to the nine-figure sum currently being discussed.

Tuchel’s ‘irresistible’ England Preference

The transfer talk coincides with Rogers’ emergence as a vital component of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad. In a tactical shift that has surprised some observers, Tuchel has recently preferred Rogers in the central attacking midfield "Number 10" role over Real Madrid’s Jude Bellingham, citing the Villa man’s "irresistible" form and physical output. With 12 senior caps and a spot secured for the upcoming World Cup in North America, Rogers is viewed as a "coach’s dream" due to his high-speed carrying and relentless pressing. However, the heavy workload of playing over 3,500 minutes this season has raised concerns about "running out of legs" before the tournament begins in June.