Chelsea have shocked football Norway and hijacked Arsenal’s big transfer target – after accepting a bid of a staggering £117 million for Aston Villa’s star striker Morgan Rogers.
Arsenal were left with the buck
All summer, Arsenal have had the 23-year-old England international at the top of their wish list. Just this week, GIVEMESPORT sources could reveal that “The Gunners” were gearing up to submit their first bid.
Read: England (FA) contacted both Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Pep Guardiola
But while Arsenal waited, Chelsea struck with fierce negotiations – and won the match.
Now there is a verbal agreement between the clubs, and Rogers will undergo a medical test as early as Monday. The contract? Seven years at Stamford Bridge – with an option for another year.
Rogers chose blue over red
The most surprising thing? According to sources, Rogers himself preferred Chelsea to Arsenal – with Xabi Alonso as the crucial piece of the puzzle.
The transfer will be extra juicy considering that Rogers will play the bronze final in the 2026 World Cup against France in a few hours. The fact that he then has his head somewhere else speaks volumes about how important this trait is to him.
Can Arsenal fight back with a revenge buy?
But Arsenal are unlikely to be broken without a fight. According to several reports, they are now considering a move for Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix – a player Chelsea have also been heavily linked with this summer.
The background? William Saliba suffered a back injury in France’s World Cup loss to Spain, and with long-term problems in his back, Mikel Arteta is suddenly looking for reinforcements in the defensive line.
Signing Saliba’s French teammate Lacroix from Selhurst Park will not only be a sporting boost – it will also send a clear signal to Chelsea that Arsenal will not give up without a fight.
The title fight starts already now
With the Premier League title to be defended and Champions League ambitions burning, Arsenal have no time to lose. Chelsea have already struck one blow – the question is whether the north London club will respond to the same coin.
One thing is for sure: the transfer window has just become more explosive.
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