Emile Heskey has urged Morgan Rogers to think carefully about any move away from Aston Villa this summer, warning he could find himself down the pecking order if he joins Arsenal.
Rogers, 23, is hoping for a big summer with England at the World Cup after another fine season at Villa, crowned by their Europa League triumph in Istanbul.
Unai Emery will be desperate to keep hold of him but interest in the no10 is emerging with Arsenal eager to sign him this summer.
Mikel Arteta, a huge admirer, has reportedly already sanctioned a move for Rogers and is desperate to bring him to north London.
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Rogers would be open to a move to the Emirates with reports suggesting it would take a fee of at least £80m to prise him away.
Arsenal are thought to be prioritising moves for another forward, left winger, a centre midfielder and a right-back and while Rogers can take up a role on the wing, he has excelled playing through the middle.
He would find himself competing with Eberechi Eze and club captain Martin Odegaard with former Villa star Heskey telling Metro: ‘Would it be difficult to say no to Arsenal? Yes and no.
‘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?’
Heskey, speaking at the launch of Panini’s FIFA World Cup pop-up store at Selfridges this week, continued: ‘He is a very intelligent player so I’m sure it would. But he has to figure out what he wants from his career.’
Rogers will be battling Jude Bellingham for the no10 role in Thomas Tuchel’s England XI at the World Cup with the Real Madrid star officially handed that squad number this week.
The former Birmingham City youngster has endured a disappointing season by his standards however, scoring just eight goals.
Rogers is the in-form option of the two and while upcoming warm-up games against New Zealand and Costa Rica could provide a clear indication of Tuchel’s plans, Heskey believes the Villa man has put himself in a very good position.
‘You have to go off some of the friendly games and see who is in better form,’ Heskey said.
‘In all fairness, Rogers has had a more consistent season. But Jude is Jude. But you have to go with form and Rogers has taken things by storm. Some of the football he has been playing has been very good, very intelligent. Villa winning the Europa and being one of the mainstays of that success has been fantastic.’