Arsenal are pushing to sign Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers this summer, with the 23-year-old understood to be open to joining the Premier League champions.
The Gunners have identified Rogers as a key target alongside Eli Junior Kroupi as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his squad following a painful Champions League final defeat.
Rogers played a central role in Aston Villa’s Europa League success and helped the club secure a top four finish in the Premier League this season.
Despite his desire to move to the Emirates Stadium, the transfer could be complicated by a significant sell-on clause held by Middlesbrough.
Boro inserted a 20 per cent sell-on clause when Rogers left the Riverside Stadium for Villa Park in a deal worth £16m, and they stand to benefit enormously from any future sale.
Industry-standard sell-on clauses typically sit at around 10 per cent, making Middlesbrough’s arrangement an unusually large one that could drive the overall fee as high as £100m.
Middlesbrough head of football Kieran Scott previously acknowledged the clause, saying: “I won’t say what amount, but there’s a good sell-on for the club. It would end up being a great signing for someone who played for 5 and a half months for us.”
Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain have all been credited with an interest in Rogers, though Arsenal are reported to be in pole position to secure his signature.
Villa are understood to be willing to sell at the right price, but the size of Middlesbrough’s cut from any deal may push the total cost beyond what Arsenal are prepared to pay.
Arteta made clear his intentions for the transfer window following the Champions League final loss, speaking on Rio Ferdinand Presents about the need for urgency and ambition.
He said: “We will start to make some very important decisions if we want to reach another level. And we’re going to have to show that ambition because we are more than capable of doing it, but it’s going to demand to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”
Aston Villa teammate Ollie Watkins has spoken glowingly about Rogers, highlighting the midfielder’s ability to create opportunities and his instinct to always look forward with the ball.
Watkins said: “He’s a player that can create things from nothing, you know, he’s very talented. He’s always going to look forward, and he’s probably not going to just get the ball and play it backwards.”
Whether Arsenal are willing to meet the financial demands of a deal that rewards Middlesbrough so handsomely remains the central question heading into the summer window.
The post Morgan Rogers Sell-On Clause Could Push Arsenal Transfer Fee To £100m Despite Player’s Willingness To Move appeared first on Gooner Daily.
