Arsenal prioritise sale of £50m title winner after Morgan Rogers transfer talks

Mikel Arteta has placed Morgan Rogers ‘high’ on his summer transfer wishlist as he plans to turn Arsenal into back-to-back Premier League champions.

Arteta guided Arsenal to their first league title in 22 years last season, with the Gunners recovering from a worrying blip to eventually finish seven points above Manchester City.

Arsenal also reached the Champions League final but were denied lifting that trophy for the first time as they lost on penalties to defending champions PSG.

Arteta’s attentions have quickly turned to Arsenal’s title defence and the Spaniard wants to secure three or four major signings to keep their rivals at bay.

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Aston Villa and England star Rogers has emerged as a top target for the Gunners, who have reportedly already held talks with his representatives.

Rogers has developed into one of the best players in the Premier League in recent years and looks set to be a key member of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad in the World Cup.

Aston Villa are understandably reluctant to part ways with Rogers but the 23-year-old is said to be ‘open’ to a move to the new Premier League champions, while he has also been linked with Chelsea.

A deal for Rogers would force at least one member of Arteta’s squad out of the Emirates Stadium and talkSPORT say Gabriel Martinelli is the ‘most vulnerable’ in that regard.

Martinelli is Arsenal’s longest-serving player, having made close to 300 appearances for the Gunners since his debut in 2019.

The Brazilian has become an increasingly bit-part player in north London, however, and contributed just one Premier League goal last season.

Leandro Trossard’s future would also come into question if Rogers and perhaps another attacker joined Arsenal and the Belgian has attracted interest from Besiktas as well as multiple Premier League clubs.

It was reported earlier this month that Arsenal were also open to offers for Gabriel Jesus and Ben White following underwhelming seasons.

While Arsenal are interested in signing Rogers, Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez is believed to be Arteta’s top summer target.

Alvarez has scored 49 goals in two seasons since joining Atletico from Manchester City and is seen as an upgrade on Arsenal’s £64m summer signing Viktor Gyokeres.

Discussing Arsenal’s interest in Alvarez, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink told 10bet: ‘He’s totally different from someone like Gyokeres. I like him, I really like him.

‘He is somebody who obviously scores goals. I think in a more attacking team than the one he is playing for now, he would score a lot more goals.

‘He has done exceptionally well at Atletico Madrid, who are quite defensive and don’t attack as much. I really like him – his combination play is really good.

‘But then on the other hand, would he be a good player for Arsenal? Yes, but I think Arsenal would have to change a little bit how they play to get the best out of him.

‘If they’re going to expect him to do a lot of defending and all that kind of stuff, then he’s going to have the same kind of season as he did at Atletico.

‘I think if you tweak the system a little bit, he can score 30-odd goals.’

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