Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea have reportedly been set a new price to sign England World Cup star Morgan Rogers this summer.
Aston Villa midfielder Rogers is currently in the United States preparing for England’s World Cup opener against Croatia on Wednesday night.
Rogers is competing with Jude Bellingham for a place in the team and Thomas Tuchel looks set to go with the Real Madrid star for England’s opening group game.
But Rogers is still expected to play a key part in England’s World Cup campaign as Tuchel looks to end 60 years of hurt in the States.
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While Rogers’ focus is on the World Cup, he will also have one eye on the transfer market and intense speculation linking him with a summer move.
The 23-year-old has emerged as a target for Arsenal, Manchester United and Chelsea after another fine season in which he helped Aston Villa qualify for the Champions League and win the Europa League.
Mikel Arteta is keen to bolster his Arsenal squad after guiding the Gunners to a long-awaited Premier League title and reportedly wants to bring Rogers to the Emirates Stadium.
But new permanent Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, who managed Rogers at Middlesbrough, is also an admirer of the midfielder, while Chelsea have long-standing interest.
Arsenal were believed to be leading the race to sign Rogers but The Athletic say Aston Villa are braced for a fresh approach from Chelsea ahead of Xabi Alonso’s arrival at Stamford Bridge.
Villa were expected to demand around £80m for a player who hopes to shine at the World Cup but it is claimed those around the club believe a fee towards the £100m paid for Jack Grealish will be the ‘starting figure’ for any negotiations.
Speaking ahead of the World Cup, Rogers did his best to play down the speculation surrounding his future, insisting England’s upcoming campaign remained his sole ‘focus’.
Asked if the transfer rumours had ever ‘affected’ his game to the point of becoming a distraction, Rogers told The Rest is Football: ‘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 and you’re not quite realising that.
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‘But as you get older and gain experience along the way, you know that comes with it and 95 per cent of it is just noise.
‘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.’
In an exclusive interview with Metro, ex-Aston Villa and England striker Emile Heskey encouraged Rogers to think very carefully before making any decision over his future.
‘Would it be difficult to say no to Arsenal? Yes and no,’ Heskey said.
‘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 and does it suit the way he plays?
‘He is a very intelligent player so I’m sure it would. But he has to figure out what he wants from his career.’
After facing Croatia in their World Cup opener, England take on Ghana and Panama as they look to progress from Group L and reach the knockout stages.
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