Manchester City are actively pursuing a deal to bring Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers back to the Etihad Stadium, according to TEAMtalk. The move comes as City prepare for a significant overhaul of their attacking options this summer, with Bernardo Silva expected to depart.
Sporting director Hugo Viana is central to the club’s rebuilding efforts following their failure to retain the Premier League title, having already overseen the arrivals of Marc Guehi, Antoine Semenyo, Rayan Cherki, and Gianluigi Donnarumma. Viana is reportedly keen to add further elite talent to the squad, identifying Rogers as a key target.
Rogers, 23, is familiar with the City setup, having spent four years in their academy from 2019 before moving to Middlesbrough in 2023 to secure regular first-team opportunities. Sources indicate he would be receptive to a return to Manchester if offered the chance.
However, City face competition from several other top clubs, including Arsenal and Chelsea, with former City academy chief Joe Shields pushing for Rogers to join the latter. Interest extends beyond the Premier League, with Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain also reportedly monitoring the situation.
Rogers is expected to feature prominently for England at the upcoming World Cup, providing a platform to further showcase his abilities. Aston Villa are expected to demand a substantial fee for the player, potentially exceeding the £100 million received for Jack Grealish in 2021, reflecting the current market conditions.
City’s interest is driven by a clear need for attacking reinforcements, and a return for Rogers represents a potentially shrewd move given his prior knowledge of the club. While no fee has been agreed, the possibility of Rogers rejoining Manchester City remains a strong one as the transfer window opens.
