Football London: Arsenal interested in Rogers while Rashford a cheaper alternative

According to Football.London, Morgan Rogers has been linked with a move to Arsenal this summer, but the Aston Villa star's price tag could be an issue.

If Arsenal signs Rashford instead of Morgan Rogers, the club could save almost £10 million. The Aston Villa attacking midfielder has been closely linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium this summer, with Arteta hoping to strengthen his attack, but his price tag could be a hurdle.

According to Football.London, the Gunners are indeed interested in signing Rogers, who is under contract at Villa Park until June 2031. Arteta hopes to continue strengthening his front line while defending the Premier League title and challenging for the Champions League again, and also wants to bring in a new midfielder and a full-back.

It is unclear whether Andrea Berta will make an official offer for the England international, whose transfer fee could be astonishingly high. The Telegraph reported that Aston Villa has valued Rogers at £130 million, which is £5 million more than Liverpool paid Newcastle United for Alexander Isak last year, a British record transfer fee.

If the Gunners accept this valuation, the 23-year-old midfielder would become the third most expensive signing in football history, behind only Neymar's €200 million and Kylian Mbappé's €165 million. Rogers would certainly significantly improve Arsenal's starting lineup, but this deal would not be good value for money.

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In contrast, the Gunners could sign Rashford for a lower price. If Eberechi Eze is considered a left winger and the Manchester United forward joins Arsenal, Arteta would have two different top-class types in the same position.

This would also give Arteta more tactical options. For example, when he anticipates that the opponent will adopt a low block, the former Crystal Palace core could start; if the Gunners face a team that wants to control possession more, and the team is likely to need to counter-attack and use transition attacks, then Rashford would start.

Although Rogers is talented, he cannot offer the same flexibility. More importantly, Arsenal could also save nearly £10 million and invest the funds in other positions.

According to The Athletic, Barcelona did not activate the €30 million (£26 million) buy-out clause in Rashford's loan agreement, which expired on Monday. The 28-year-old forward's contract at Old Trafford runs until June 2028. He made 49 appearances for the Catalan club in all competitions last season, scoring 14 goals and providing 14 assists.

Rashford played a key role under Flick, helping the team win La Liga. Reports suggest that the England international will return to Carrington after the World Cup, but his future remains uncertain.

It is believed that he has not ruled out a return to Camp Nou, but Manchester United is only willing to accept permanent transfer offers. The Athletic stated that potential suitors could activate a £40 million release clause, with the exception of Manchester City and Liverpool.

Berta should not hesitate to activate this clause. Not only would Rashford be a great addition, but Arsenal would also free up funds to continue strengthening other positions...

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