Arsenal Told to Pay British Record £130m for Morgan Rogers

Arsenal have been informed that prying Morgan Rogers away from Aston Villa will cost a British record fee of €152 million (£130m), according to reports. Sources indicate that the Gunners are prioritizing a versatile attacker this summer, with the Villa star sitting atop their wishlist. Rogers, 23, has established himself as one of the Premier League's most effective forwards over the past two and a half seasons, netting 31 goals in 125 appearances since arriving from Middlesbrough in February 2024. His standout performances helped Unai Emery's side capture the UEFA Europa League title in 2025-26, earning him the competition's Player of the Season award. Villa, however, are reluctant to part ways with the attacking midfielder despite financial constraints linked to UEFA's spending regulations. The media understands that the Midlands club may be forced into a major sale to comply with those rules, and Rogers could be the sacrificial lamb. The Mail claims that a British-record bid of €152m would be enough to open negotiations. That figure would eclipse the previous benchmark of €144m (£125m) paid by Liverpool to Newcastle for Alexander Isak last summer. Arsenal would also need to break the bank for Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola, identified as an alternative target. The France international is said to be weighing up offers, with Liverpool also monitoring the situation. Arsenal view Barcola as a secondary option and are not pursuing both players simultaneously. Both Rogers and Barcola are currently competing at the World Cup with England and France respectively. Rogers came off the bench in England's dramatic 3-2 round-of-16 win over Mexico, setting up a quarterfinal clash with Norway. Barcola, who has two goals and an assist at the tournament, is hoping to start when France face Morocco in a rematch of their 2022 semifinal.