Arsenal are set to bid for Morgan Rogers after making the Aston Villa attacker their number one target, GIVEMESPORT understands. Arsenal are keen to add a starting left-winger, and the fact Rogers also thrives as a number ten is viewed as an added bonus.

Rogers is understood to be keen on a move to the Emirates Stadium, despite firm interest from Chelsea, Manchester United and Paris Saint-Germain.

Although Villa insiders insist they want to keep Rogers, GMS understands a sale will be sanctioned at the right price. Rogers signed a new contract in November last year, keeping him at the club until 2031, but it only added a year to his existing terms.

Arsenal do not face competition from Liverpool right now

REUTERS/Peter Powell

There was an understanding last summer that Rogers could go for £80million, a price tag no suitor met. At that point, Liverpool were one of Rogers’ most active suitors but haven’t, as it stands, rekindled interest. And this number informs the valuation for this window and will prove a starting point for any engagement.

Villa will be watching closely at the kind of fees other players are valued at, including Leipzig’s €130million asking price for Yan Diomande, and the £70million Barcelona paid for Anthony Gordon with less time left on his contract than Rogers. Should they get a bidding war in addition, sources indicate they could ask for a figure closer to £100million. Yet Villa won’t unduly stand in Rogers’ way, something that was reiterated to the player when he signed fresh terms.

Rogers is at peak age and peak value, and Villa know bringing in a sale can help Unai Emery reinvest in multiple squad players and balance the books. Even with Champions League football this season, Villa are still looking to bring in funds as they navigate the final cycle of the Premier League’s Profit & Sustainability Rules and seek to satisfy UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP).

Arsenal consider themselves frontrunners to sign Rogers and will now begin formal talks with Aston Villa.

Rogers’ versatility will be key for Arsenal

Rogers, who has made 125 appearances for Villa, scoring 25 times, is currently on England duty. He was also named as the Player of the Tournament in the Europa League as Villa beat Freiburg 3-0 in the final to lift the trophy and qualify for the Champions League.

Rogers has no preference as to whether he is deployed as a left-winger or a number ten, and Arsenal value his versatility.

Elsewhere, Arsenal are one of the clubs keen on Morocco’s Ayyoub Bouaddi and face competition from several Champions League clubs, including Liverpool and PSG. The 18-year-old midfielder is likely to cost more than £55million.

And Arsenal are set to sign Leicester City winger Jeremy Monga for at least £10million. It doesn’t appear a tribunal will be necessary to establish the fee for the 16-year-old after the clubs have been able to reach a verbal agreement. Only final details now remain, and Monga has already agreed terms.

Jurgen Klopp delivered a nine-word verdict on Lionel Messi after watching the legendary forward break the record for most goals in World Cup finals history on Monday.

Messi, who turns 39 on Wednesday, scored his 17th and 18th World Cup goals against Austria at the Dallas Stadium. He also took his 2026 World Cup goals tally to five goals, following a hat-trick against Algeria in Argentina’s opening Group J match, and currently leads France’s Kylian Mbappe and Norway’s Erling Haaland (four goals apiece) in the Golden Boot race.

The Inter Miami star missed an early penalty against the Austrians but still broke Miroslav Klose’s long-standing record before half-time thanks to a vintage left-footed strike.

Messi played the full 90 minutes and doubled his – and Argentina’s – tally shortly before full-time with a superb goal that highlighted his remarkable tenacity and peerless quality.

There’s a growing sense that Messi is in the process of cementing his status as football’s greatest-ever player at this summer’s showpiece international tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The 2022 World Cup winner could even end the year with a record-breaking ninth Ballon d’Or award if he continues this exceptional form at football’s most prestigious tournament.

Klopp Drops Messi Verdict After World Cup Record is Broken

REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

One revered figure who was fortunate enough to witness Messi’s record-breaking exploits in person was the former Borussia Dortmund and Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp.

The charismatic German coach, who is currently employed as the Head of Global Soccer for Red Bull, embraced Messi on the touchline after the match after briefly reuniting with his former Liverpool player, Alexis Mac Allister.

While Klopp was buzzing to get Mac Allister’s match-worn shirt, it was Messi who wowed him most. Per journalist Gary Al-Smith, the world-class manager-turned-World Cup pundit said:

Next up for Messi and Argentina is a match against Jordan, who have lost their opening two Group J fixtures against Austria and Algeria, on Saturday evening.

It’s unclear whether Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni will play Messi in that fixture, or hand the veteran forward a well-deserved rest. However, there’s no doubt that Argentina’s iconic No. 10 will be desperate to play, and ultimately he’s likely to call the shots depending on how he feels.

As things stand, Argentina are set to meet fellow South American nation Uruguay in the Round of 32 on July 3. However, the situation could still change depending on how results unfold over the next week-and-a-half.

Manchester United and Tottenham are both interested in signing West Ham midfielder Mateus Fernandes in the summer transfer window, and his preference has been revealed.

Fernandes looks set to be moving on in the summer, following West Ham’s relegation to the Championship.

The Portuguese midfielder is attracting plenty of interest, meaning the Hammers can demand a significant fee for him to depart.

Tottenham and United appear to be the two most interested sides as it stands, giving Fernandes plenty to think about over the coming weeks.

It looks set to be a competitive race to secure his signature, but it remains to be seen if either club is going to be willing to meet his asking price.

Man Utd and Tottenham: Fernandes Update

via Reuters

According to Roundtable, discussions between Fernandes and Manchester United began months ago, with talks intensifying around a month ago.

After holding talks with the representatives of Fernandes, United believed that the Portuguese midfielder preferred them to any other club, and that stance remains the same even after Tottenham’s reported interest.

The report also confirms that Spurs’ interest is very solid, but United remain confident in securing his signature.

The Red Devils are considered the most advanced club at the moment and are pushing to bring him to Old Trafford.

It will be interesting to see what happens if either club makes an official bid and whether West Ham’s asking price lowers over the coming weeks.

Man Utd’s Advantage in Race is Obvious

It shouldn’t be a huge surprise that Fernandes’s preference is to join Manchester United over Tottenham in the summer transfer window.

Spurs have been going through a difficult period in the Premier League over the last couple of years, finishing 17th in two seasons on the trot.

Although they look improved under Roberto De Zerbi and are making some smart signings in the transfer market, United are the more stable club at the moment.

The Red Devils finished in the Champions League places last season, so it’s an opportunity for Fernandes to test himself in Europe next term.