Arsenal make Villa’s Morgan Rogers their No 1 target in transfer window

Arsenal are expected to make an approach to sign Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa after making the England forward their primary transfer target this summer. The Premier League champions want to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s squad and are hopeful of bringing Rogers to north London, although he could cost up to £100m. Talks with Villa have yet to commence but they are expected to make contact in the coming weeks. The former European champions do not want to sell the 23-year-old, who also has interest from Chelsea and others, but Arsenal are believed to be confident of doing a deal. Rogers, who is in the United States with the England squad as they prepare to face Ghana in their second match at the World Cup, is believed to be keen on joining Arsenal after moving to Villa Park from Middlesbrough for £8m in 2024. He signed a new six-year deal with Villa in November after a brilliant first campaign in the Midlands that saw the former West Brom and Manchester City youth-team player voted the PFA’s young player of the year. Rogers was named as the player of the tournament in the Europa League last season after leading Villa to their first major trophy since 1996 . He has been competing with childhood friend Jude Bellingham for a starting spot under Thomas Tuchel and came off the bench in England’s win over Croatia . …