2 winners (and 5 undeniable losers) if Morgan Rogers comes to Chelsea
Morgan Rogers could well be a Chelsea player by the end of the week, with the England international expected to be pictured holding up the famous blue shirt alongside the man who convinced him to make the move across London.
Details surrounding Rogers’ medical are likely to emerge sooner rather than later. Once that stage is complete, all eyes will turn to the moment Chelsea supporters have been waiting for, the official unveiling of Rogers as the club’s newest signing.
Here we look at the two winners and five losers of the signing:
Loser: Aston Villa fans
This has been one of Aston Villa’s toughest transfer windows in recent memory. The midfield has already been weakened by Youri Tielemans’ departure and Amadou Onana’s ACL injury, and losing Morgan Rogers would be another huge blow.
There will be tears flowing in the Holte End, while the cheers from West London will probably be loud enough to hear all the way back in Birmingham once the season gets underway.
Rogers’ influence during Villa’s Europa League triumph elevated him from a promising talent to one of the club’s key players, with many supporters viewing him as a cornerstone of Unai Emery’s long-term project.
Winner: Xabi Alonso
Without a ball even being kicked, Xabi Alonso has won the first battle over Mikel Arteta and Arsenal. Morgan Rogers is understood to have chosen Chelsea after being convinced by Alonso’s vision, with the former Real Madrid manager outlining exactly how he would use the attacker and the role he would play in transforming the Blues.
While Arsenal are signing Chelsea’s unwanted stars for good money, the club is beating the Premier League winner to the talent. Hopefully, this will transform Chelsea into Premier League champions once again. And, that reason points to our Spaniard boss (our el director).
Loser: Chelsea’s out and out wingers (Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto)
Alejandro Garnacho, Jamie Gittens and Pedro Neto are certainly the biggest losers if this proves to be the case, with the tactical shift suggesting neither player is an ideal fit for Alonso’s preferred system.
Chelsea fans would probably chip in to pay for Garnacho’s flight to Rome if it helps push through his rumoured move to AS Roma. As for Neto and Gittens, though, an exit currently appears far less likely, with interest in the two wingers viewed as considerably more limited. Geovany Quenda can adapt and the new system will benefit Estevao.
Winner: Chelsea’s marketing department
It feels a little chilly here.
The two creators of the “Chilly” celebration will be out in full force at Stamford Bridge. It is up to the marketing department to create the content that will inspire generations of Blues to come.
Chelsea could soon boast not one, but two of England’s finest attacking midfielders. If Morgan Rogers arrives, he would join Cole Palmer in a system that is expected to suit both players. Under Xabi Alonso, Chelsea are likely to line up in a fluid 3-4-3, allowing Rogers and Palmer the freedom to interchange and combine in the final third.
Rogers has developed into one of the Premier League’s most productive attacking players, taking his game to another level last season. His return of 18 goals and 16 assists in the league over two seasons alongside several influential performances in Europe, underlines both his quality and why Aston Villa are demanding such a significant transfer fee.
Loser: Arsenal fans
Another set of Premier League fans will be left disappointed, with Arsenal supporters set to miss out on seeing Morgan Rogers in red and white at the Emirates. The tears probably won’t be flowing across north London just yet, but if Bradley Barcola ends up driving into the capital instead, they’ll soon forget all about the Rogers pursuit.
Then again, this is Arsenal. If recent transfer windows are anything to go by, there’s every chance they’ll somehow be beaten to another dream left-wing signing as well.
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Winners |
Losers |
|---|---|
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Xabi Alonso |
Arsenal fans |
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Chelsea’s marketing team |
Alejandro Garnacho |
|
Jamie Gittens |
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Pedro Neto |
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Aston Villa |
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