Morgan Rogers could become one of Chelsea's most expensive transfers of all-time if BlueCo complete a deal for the England international.
Rogers is being targeted by Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester United ahead of the summer transfer window, with Xabi Alonso looking to add proven Premier League quality to his squad.
Despite winning the Europa League, Aston Villa are under pressure to sell Rogers due to squad cost ratio regulations, and according to Sky Sports, Unai Emery's men qualifying for the Champions League will have "little bearing" on his future.
The 23-year-old is likely to be sold as Villa can only spend 70 per cent of football revenue on players, and a big sale will be required to stay within the parameters. But even though Rogers could cost Chelsea £100 million, instead of the initial £80m that was suggested, the England international could be worth his weight in gold.
What Morgan Rogers has said about Reece James
Manchester City's academy gem has unsurprisingly garnered attention since becoming one of the Premier League's best attacking midfielders, and it's mouth-watering to imagine him playing alongside Cole Palmer as one of two number 10s at Stamford Bridge.
Including a goal and an assist in the Europa League final victory over Freiburg, the versatile attacker has produced 26 goal involvements across 55 appearances this season to earn him a spot in Thomas Tuchel's England World Cup squad.
He will link back up with Chelsea right-back Reece James, a player he once said was "honestly scary" when asked which England player surprised him the most in training last September.
"I've said this before and I'm gonna say it again - Reece James was the one for me. Not that I knew he wasn't good, because he's won the Champions League, and he'd been in Chelsea's team for ages.
"You don't quite realise when you go and train how he's got absolutely everything in his game. I know he's been unfortunate with injuries and had a tough time but the fact you can see him fit and see how good he is, it's honestly scary.""
Rogers has played alongside James on five occasions for the Three Lions, and he could increase that total at the World Cup and then if he moves to West London afterwards.
Rogers transfer would show Chelsea's intention
Although paying £100m for Aston Villa's powerful playmaker seems ludicrous, Chelsea have seen how paying the premium can benefit the club.
Enzo Fernandez and Moises Caicedo both cost north of nine figures after joining from Benfica and Brighton, respectively, in 2023. They are now two of the worlds best in their position, and Rogers is close to saying the same.
Also, with Mikel Arteta personally driving the pursuit of Rogers to Arsenal, getting the better of the title winners and a team offering Champions League football would seriously show Chelsea's ambition.
Even though they can't offer European football for new signings, they can offer an attractive project with Alonso in charge, and perhaps that will sway Villa's No. 27 into joining, as long as the Blues are willing to cough up an eye-watering amount.
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