Morgan Rogers dismisses exit talk amidst Premier League transfer speculation

Chirag Sharatkumar

Morgan Rogers dismisses exit talk amidst Premier League transfer speculation image

Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers has pushed back on rumors linking him with a late summer move, stressing that his attention is fully on the season ahead at Villa Park.

Rogers, who was recently crowned PFA Young Player of the Year, has drawn interest from several Premier League clubs after a breakout campaign under Unai Emery last season, but he has publicly dismissed talk of an imminent departure.

The 23-year-old joined Villa from Middlesbrough in February 2024 and has very quickly become a cornerstone of Emery’s squad.

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He started all but one of Villa’s 38 Premier League matches last season, while also featuring in all 12 of their Champions League outings.

His impressive form has also earned him six England caps over the past year, putting him firmly on the radar of rival clubs and in contention for a spot in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for next summer’s FIFA World Cup.

He has been linked with Chelsea, Arsenal, and Tottenham during the window, with some reports suggesting that Spurs could accelerate their pursuit after losing the battle for Crystal Palace star Eberechi Eze to the Gunners.

What did Villa’s young star say? 

Despite interest from other Premier League clubs, Rogers insists his focus remains fixed on building on his impressive campaign last time out.

“I’m happy here [at Villa],” Rogers told The Times.

“I love football. I love nothing more than just coming out on the pitch and playing football and that’s what I’m doing. I don’t think about anythng else. 

“I can’t predict the next 12 months or anything in the future. It’s just about playing football, enjoying my football and showing everyone what I can do.”

The forward also heaped praise on his manager for giving him the confidence and faith required to take his game to another level.

“The manager giving me loads of trust and playing me through the good and the bad times really helped,” Rogers continued. 

“I’m not always going to be perfect, everything's not always going to come off the way I play.

“It’s not possible for everything to work and for it to be a good day all the time, but the manager had that belief in me.

“I remember him telling me at one stage that the reason he’s kept me on in certain games is because he knows that if I keep going at it, the moment will come and the chance will come and he wants that to fall to me. 

“Giving me that pressure and that challenge helped me step up and show that I can be a big part of this group.”

Rogers was in action as Villa played out a tepid draw against Newcastle United to open their Premier League season, and will certainly look to help his side chase their first victory when they visit Brentford on Saturday (August 23).

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Chirag Sharatkumar

Chirag Sharatkumar is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, with a focus on the Premier League, international football, and global fan culture. He also has extensive experience with the Stats Perform news agency and is a keen long-form sport and culture writer and storyteller. His work can be found on the pages of MUNDIAL Magazine and across various Substack platforms.