^ ^ Aston Villa respond as Chelsea target stunning Morgan Rogers transfer

Aston Villa signed Morgan Rogers from Middlesbrough last year (Picture: Getty)

Chelsea are lining up a stunning summer move for Aston Villa and England star Morgan Rogers, according to reports.

Rogers has been one of the standout players in the Premier League this season, scoring eight goals and making a further eight assists.

The 22-year-old also impressed during Villa’s run to the quarter-finals of the Champions League, scoring four goals – including a hat-trick against Celtic – and providing two assists.

Rogers may have been fearing the worst when he was released by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City in 2023 but he revived his career in the Championship at Middlesbrough.

Aston Villa spent £15m to sign Rogers at the start of 2024 and his resurgence has continued at the Midlands club, resulting in an England call-up.

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Rogers made his debut for the Three Lions in November and is expected to be a key member of Thomas Tuchel’s squad at next year’s World Cup.

The midfielder’s form has also caught the attention of Chelsea, who have identified Rogers as a target ahead of the summer transfer window.

Chelsea chief Todd Boehly (Picture: Getty)

The Blues are keen to add more goals and creativity to their squad and are lining up a move for Rogers, according to The Independent.

While Chelsea hope to bring Rogers to Stamford Bridge, the report adds that Aston Villa have no intention of selling the player and view him as a star for the future.

Villa may, however, be forced to offload some players given their substantial wage bill and desire to turn Marcus Rashford’s loan move into a permanent transfer.

Rogers impressed in both the Premier League and Champions League (Picture: Getty)

Qualifying for the Champions League will improve the club’s financial situation but Aston Villa are seventh – three points outside the Champions League places – with four games remaining.

Villa were eyeing an extraordinary and historic season just a few weeks ago but have since been knocked out of the Champions League by PSG and lost their FA Cup semi-final against Crystal Palace.

Unai Emery’s side were also beaten 2-1 by Manchester City last week in a potentially decisive blow in the race for Champions League football.

Speaking ahead of that game, City boss Guardiola was asked about Rogers’ impressive form and development since leaving the Etihad Stadium.

‘He was in the second team, and trained sometimes with us, and we could see something there,’ Guardiola said.

‘But the impact he’s had in Villa, what a player, we had an exceptional player here, absolutely.’

As well as targeting Rogers, Chelsea have also been heavily linked with summer moves for Liam Delap and Dean Huijsen.

Chelsea enjoyed a superb first-half to the season – briefly threatening to rival Liverpool for the title – but have since slipped to fifth.

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^ ^ Arsenal slammed over ’embarrassing’ tifo after defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Champions League

Arsenal unveiled their huge cannon tifo before their Champions League game against PSG (Anadolu via Getty)

Former Aston Villa striker Gabriel Agbonlahor believes the atmosphere inside the Emirates Stadium during Arsenal’s defeat to Paris Saint-Germain was ’embarrassing’ and has branded the pre-match tifo ‘horrendous’.

Mikel Arteta’s side now face an uphill task to reach the Champions League final following a 1-0 defeat to PSG in the first leg of their semi final on Tuesday night.

Ousmane Dembele’s goal after just four minutes was enough to secure the win for Luis Enrique’s side, who now take a slender advantage back to the French capital for the second leg of their Champions League tie at the Parc des Princes next Wednesday.

Meanwhile, Arsenal supporters were on the receiving end of criticism from Wayne Rooney after the game, with the former Manchester United and England striker saying that he was ‘disappointed’ by the lack of energy from the fans inside the stadium.

For their first leg against PSG, Arsenal were keen to replicate the lively atmosphere in their 3-0 victory over Real Madrid at the Emirates in the Champions League quarter final earlier this month.

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The Gunners produced a huge tifo of a cannon which was suspended from the roof of the North Bank ahead of kick-off, while the ‘make it happen’ crowd-surfing banner was seen once again in the East Stand.

But Agbonlahor has described the tifo as ‘something my seven-year-old had done at school for a project’.

‘It was embarrassing, they were quiet,’ Agbonlahor told talkSPORT when asked about the Arsenal supporters at the Emirates.

Gabriel Agbonlahor says Arsenal’s tifo ‘looked like something my seven-year-old had done at school for a project’ (Getty)

‘Come on, it was a semi-final of the Champions League, look at what Liverpool have done at Anfield in semi-finals, Aston Villa against PSG.

‘Do they need a man with a speaking behind the goal saying, ‘sing, sing’?

‘It makes it embarrassing for the Arsenal fanbase that they need Odegaard every second, Raya was doing it, the manager was doing it. But what I would say is maybe if Odegaard put in a performance to lift the fans a little bit because he’s always a cheerleader, he’s always going like this, waving his arms. If you’re an Arsenal fan you’re like, ‘no offence, Martin, but maybe you can do something to lift us because you’re not having the greatest of games, greatest of seasons’.

‘I just felt the tifo was embarrassing, the atmosphere was embarrassing, for a semi-final the club should have done a lot more.

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‘Imagine Celtic in a semi-final, you wouldn’t be able to hear the manager the whole game.

‘It’s incredible, how can you just not create an atmosphere for your players?

‘I’ve seen Odegaard, I saw Raya, I saw Martinelli a few times as well, Arteta, it’s like they were begging, ‘please, can you sing? Give us something, help’.

‘The tifo was embarrassing. It looked like something my seven-year-old had done at school for a project, like the parents have helped.

‘You’ve got to cover a lot more of that lower tier, not just a little bit. It was horrendous. It summed up the night for Arsenal, the tifo.’

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^ ^ Mikel Arteta urged to drop Arsenal star for huge second leg against PSG

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were beaten by PSG in the first leg (Picture: Getty)

Mikel Arteta has been urged to make a significant change for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final second leg against PSG.

The Gunners will travel to the French capital next Wednesday in a bid to overturn a one-goal deficit and reach the 2025 Champions League final.

Arsenal fans had high hopes ahead of the first leg against the Ligue 1 champions after knocking Champions League holders Real Madrid out of the competition in the quarter-finals.

Arteta’s side were brilliant across two legs against Madrid but failed to produce that level of performance at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg against Paris Saint-Germain.

Hoping to take a lead into the second leg, Arsenal in fact find themselves 1-0 down Ousmane Dembele’s early goal was enough to separate the teams in north London.

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PSG are now the clear favourites to progress, having already eliminated fellow Premier League clubs Liverpool and Aston Villa during an impressive run to the semi-finals.

Arteta is set to recall suspended midfielder Thomas Partey for the second leg, with Mikel Merino expected to slot back in up front which he has done to great success in recent months.

PSG beat Arsenal 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium (Picture: Getty)

But the Gunners boss has been urged to make another change which would see Ethan Nwaneri start ahead of Gabriel Martinelli in Paris.

Nwaneri, 18, has enjoyed a breakthrough season at the Emirates Stadium but only came on in injury-time against PSG.

‘In those type of games, you want players who are fearless, who are going to go out there and just do it and not let the pressure of the situation get to them,’ ex-Premier League midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker told CBS Sports after PSG’s first-leg win over Arsenal.

Ethan Nwaneri came on as a late substitute (Picture: Getty)

‘You know what I would do? I would start Nwaneri. Ethan, the young lad at Arsenal, because these are the games young players can thrive in.

‘I hate when people say “oh they’re too young” about players, if you’re good enough, you’re old enough. I would let Ethan go out there and do his thing.

‘It’s a tough decision but I would take Martinelli out for Nwaneri, I really would.

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‘Mikel Merino will go back up there because Thomas Partey will come back in after his suspension.

‘People will say Nwaneri’s not played in that position much but in the modern game players all interchange in different positions. I would find a way to get him in that team.’

Arteta was naturally ‘disappointed’ after Arsenal’s narrow defeat but insisted the tie was far from over.

Luis Enrique’s side took a 1-0 lead back to Paris (Picture: Getty)

‘Obviously disappointed with the result,’ he told Amazon Prime. ‘We put so much into the game.

‘We struggled first 10-15 minutes to get momentum and dominance but we were better after that. It’s disappointing not to get a draw at least.’

PSG boss Luis Enrique, meanwhile, said: ‘Great atmosphere but we showed the kind of team we are.

‘We tried to play our way and scored the goal early playing the way we play. We suffered sometimes but could have scored the second goal.

‘The second match is going to be very tough. We need to prepare well, it’s going to be difficult.

‘The result means a little advantage for us. We are going to suffer, we know that. I think we can go to the final but there is still one match.’

La Liga leaders Barcelona take on Serie A giants Inter Milan in the other Champions League semi-final.

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^ ^ Arsene Wenger rates Arsenal’s chances of beating PSG to Champions League final spot

Arsene Wenger believes it could be Arsenal’s year in the Champions League (Picture: Getty)

Arsene Wenger has praised Arsenal’s defensive solidity and is confident the club have what it takes to overcome Paris Saint-Germain and reach this season’s Champions League final.

Arsenal saw off Real Madrid, the holders and 15-time European winners, in some style across a one-sided quarter-final tie to book their spot in the last four for the first time in 16 years.

An inspired Declan Rice sent the Gunners on their way with two breathtaking free-kicks before Mikel Merino increased the deficit in a 3-0 victory in north London.

Mikel Arteta’s men picked up where they left off at the Bernabeu, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli netting either side of Vinicius Junior’s 67th-minute strike to spark jubilant scenes amongst Arsenal’s travelling support in the Spanish capital.

Luis Enrique has received widespread praise for overseeing a shift in ethos at PSG since taking over the reins in 2023, with the French champions within touching distance of a trophy which has so far eluded them, much like Arsenal.

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The Ligue 1 giants survived an almighty scare against Aston Villa to advance through, though, and head into tonight’s Emirates showdown after just one win in four in all competitions.

‘I believe that Arsenal have the potential to do it [beat PSG],’ former Arsenal manager Wenger told Sky Sports.

The Gunners strolled past the holders Madrid to reach the last four (Picture: Getty)

PSG stand between Arsenal and the Champions League final (Picture: Getty)

‘But of course, once you go to the semi-final, Paris Saint-Germain is a very good team as well.

‘So everybody is excited about it so let’s see and hope.’

Wenger added: ‘The teams that go through to the semi-final, they have some quality.

‘Then, it’s down to the form of the day, to the main players who can show their efficiency on the day.’

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Wenger believes it is vitally important Arsenal manage to keep ten men on the field to give themselves the best possible chances of reaching their second ever Champions League final.

‘[It is important] that you have no sending off or stupid reactions at some stage,’ the iconic Frenchman continued.

‘Overall, I believe Arsenal is very solid defensively and, over the two legs that will have a big importance.’

Ex-Arsenal star Ljungberg says Arteta’s men have a ‘very, very good chance’ (Picture: Getty)

Freddie Ljungberg was on the losing side as Barcelona came from behind to beat Wenger’s team to the title in a memorable final in 2006.

This year, the ex-Arsenal and Sweden winger is hopeful the Gunners can knock out PSG and go all the way.

‘I think they have a very, very good chance,’ Ljungberg told Sky Sports.

‘There are so many players that can hurt PSG, but obviously you have the set-pieces, where I think they can or will hurt them.

‘Then you have Declan Rice who, of course, would have got confidence from his two free-kicks, but when he wins the ball in transition he can drive forward and get a player like Bukayo Saka into the game.

‘Obviously, he [Saka] is lethal and can win any game.’

Asked if Arsenal can finally lift the trophy, Ljungberg replied: ‘I think so, 100 per cent, they have a great side.

‘I think everybody was a bit disappointed about the league, but this is their chance and I think they can do it.’

Who will win this year's Champions League?

• Arsenal
• PSG
• Barcelona
• Inter Milan

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^ ^ Paul Scholes reveals ‘worry’ as Man Utd close in on deal for Arsenal and Chelsea target

Ex-Manchester United midfielder Paul Scholes (Picture: Getty)

Paul Scholes has revealed his ‘worry’ as Manchester United close in on a summer transfer deal for Arsenal and Chelsea target Matheus Cunha.

United are believed to be leading the race to sign Cunha, 25, after opening talks with Wolves earlier this month.

Cunha has enjoyed three productive seasons at Molineux since joining from Atletico Madrid in 2023, scoring 17 goals this season for a team involved in a relegation scrap.

The Brazil international signed a new contract with Wolves in January but has a £62.5m release clause that can be activated this summer.

Arsenal and Chelsea expressed interest in signing Cunha during the January transfer window but Manchester United have moved ahead of their Premier League rivals and are confident of bringing him to Old Trafford.

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Ruben Amorim is desperate for reinforcements following a dismal start to his tenure and is a known admirer of Cunha.

Legendary midfielder Scholes also rates Cunha highly but ‘worries’ about where the Brazilian would play at United.

Matheus Cunha is set to leave Wolves this summer (Picture: Getty)

‘He looks like he’s got the attributes that Ruben Amorim wants,’ the Manchester United legend told TNT Sports.

‘He knows that physically, his team are just not strong or quick enough, so Matheus Cunha is obviously athletic, and he’s got quality with 15 league goals this season.

‘I just worry for any signing coming to Manchester United at the minute. It just feels like it’s such a bad place to go.

Ruben Amorim is desperate for reinforcements at Old Trafford (Picture: Getty)

‘The quality of play right now is so poor. And with Cunha, is he a centre-forward or is he a wide player?

‘There’s no doubt that he has quality and of course, it would be nice to sign him, but I worry about where he fits in.

‘You can sign the best three players in the world, and I think they’ll struggle coming into this team at the minute, but they’ve got to start somewhere.’

Europa League will not save ‘disaster’ season for Man Utd

Scholes has described Manchester United’s form as ‘disastrous’ and says even winning the Europa League will not save their season.

United are just 14th in the Premier League with four league games remaining, having won just ten of their 34 matches.

The Red Devils have fared better in Europe and are preparing for a Europa League semi-final tie with Athletic Bilbao.

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‘Manchester United have been a disaster in the Premier League this year,’ Scholes added. ‘It’s been really difficult to watch and again it was difficult once more against Bournemouth.

‘The Europa League has given them a little bit of life. Winning it will not save their season because the Premier League is your bread and butter and that’s where you’ll be judged, and I think Amorim knows that.

‘There’s a bit of light at the end of the tunnel with the Europa League for the fans especially. They’ve got a tough game against Athletic Club as they’re one of the better teams left in the competition.

‘I think being at home in the second leg helps them. If they were away in the second leg, I think they’d really struggle to get through, but if they can go over there and get a result, then the crowd at Old Trafford in that second leg can really get you through.

‘You wouldn’t be putting your money on them and calling them favourites to win it because of how inconsistent they are, but out of the four teams, they’ve got as good a chance as any of them.’

Manchester United are facing an Athletic Bilbao side sitting fourth in La Liga behind Atletico Madrid, Real Madrid and leaders Barcelona.

United’s Premier League rivals Tottenham are involved in the other Europa League semi-final against Norwegian side Bodo-Glimt.

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^ ^ Arsenal sent Martin Zubimendi transfer message by Real Sociedad chief

Arsenal are favourites to sign Martin Zubimendi from Real Sociedad (Picture: Getty)

Arsenal have been told Martin Zubimendi’s future will be resolved in June amid speculation that a £51million transfer is a formality.

Mikel Arteta’s side are currently preparing for their Champions League semi-final against Paris Saint-Germain, but with the season reaching its climax attention will soon turn to the summer window.

Regardless of their European fate, Arsenal will look to strengthen in the close season after their Premier League title challenge this term ran out of steam.

Although a centre forward is understood to be a priority, a midfield rebuild is also on the cards given the impending departure of veteran Italy international Jorginho.

The 33-year-old is set to leave as a free agent and is discussions with Brazilian club Flamengo, while Arteta could also lose Thomas Partey as the Ghana international linked with a return to his former club Atletico Madrid.

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New Arsenal transfer chief Andrea Berta is understood to have helped close a deal for the Spain international midfielder who is also said to be a Real Madrid target.

Sociedad president Jokin Aperribay, however, claims all interested parties must wait until June before a final decision is made.

Arsenal are resigned to losing Jorginho at the end of the season (Picture: Getty)

Speaking to Radio Marca Donostia, Aperribay said: ‘We’ll see what happens.

‘All I ask of him is one last effort to qualify for Europe and whatever happens, will happen in June.

‘There’s no point in speculating now about whether he’ll be there. He’s had several opportunities to leave and he’ll make the decision he wants, because he’ll have more options.’

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 23: Thomas Partey of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Crystal Palace FC at Emirates Stadium on April 23, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by James Gill – Danehouse/Getty Images)

When quizzed on whether there was any chance of Zubimendi signing fresh terms and staying put, Aperribay added: ‘I don’t remember our last conversation.

‘When I talk to him, it’s more about goals, pushing… There’s one month left, and we’re playing against opponents who can beat us, but we can also beat them all. There are no easy or difficult matches. Martin is part of that.

‘I don’t know if it’s difficult for him to stay. We haven’t tried to raise the clause.

‘Don’t think contracts are negotiated like that. It’s more a matter of willpower. If he wants to continue the conversation, it will last five minutes. I don’t know if it’s difficult.’

^ ^ Liverpool told they can ‘win the league for next five years’ with one summer signing

Liverpool have been crowned this season’s Premier League champions (Picture: Getty)

Troy Deeney believes that one major piece of summer business could put Liverpool in a position to win the Premier League ‘for the next five years’.

The Reds wrapped up the Premier League title in convincing fashion on Sunday with a 5-1 win over Tottenham in front of their home fans at Anfield.

It marks a remarkable achievement for Arne Slot, who has guided the club to their record-equalling 20th English league title in his first season on Merseyside.

While Arsenal and defending champions Manchester City have fallen by the wayside, Liverpool have remained superbly consistent and lost just twice in the league all season.

And while Slot’s side now have four games remaining of the season to soak in their achievement, behind the scenes, preparations will surely be underway for next season as they look to go again and defend their crown.

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In that regard, Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk’s contract extensions represent excellent early business, but the Reds may have to be prepared for the departure of Trent Alexander-Arnold as a move to Real Madrid beckons.

But Liverpool will also look to strengthen further in key positions to provide Slot with a squad that is truly capable of competing on all fronts next term.

Liverpool wrapped up the league title with a 5-1 win over Tottenham (Picture: Getty)

Darwin Nunez has never truly caught fire and looks destined to leave Anfield this summer, and both Ally McCoist and Troy Deeney are certain that a new striker is exactly what Liverpool should target in the summer window.

‘I look at Liverpool just now and they probably – not as much as Arsenal – could still do with an out-and-out No.9,’ McCoist said on talkSPORT.

‘Liverpool fans may be saying, ‘what a ridiculous thing to say, we’ve got goals all over the pitch’ and they have.

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‘(Luis) Diaz has been brilliant, Salah has been out of this world and they’ve got midfielders chipping in, but maybe still a goalscoring centre forward [would help].

‘I don’t see it happening but say if Harry Kane won the Bundesliga, which he will do, and then fancied coming back to England – that would be a dream move for him.’

Deeney, meanwhile, thinks the Reds should move heaven and earth to try and complete an audacious move for Alexander Isak, who is expected to command interest from a host of top European clubs this summer despite Newcastle’s mammoth asking price for the Swede.

Alexander Isak is a wanted man this summer (Picture: Getty)

And the former Watford striker is confident that the rest of the league would be left behind if Liverpool were able to get a deal over the line.

‘They’re linked with Isak as well. If they were to get that, just give them the title for the next five years if they get that fella,’ he said.

Deeney pinpoints three further areas to strengthen

Both Trent Alexander-Arnold and Andy Robertson could be replaced this summer (Picture: Getty)

While Isak would be the jewel in the crown for Liverpool’s potential summer business, Deeney thinks the Merseyside club could still do with strengthening in three further areas over the summer.

‘I can see them looking at a left-back,’ he added. ‘Robertson has been fantastic but unfortunately, there comes a time when you get moved, it’s just part and parcel of football.

‘Probably another centre half because if one of the guys goes down, they are light in that situation.

‘And I still think they need an extra body in midfield. They haven’t been lucky but nobody in that midfield three has been injured for a sustained period of time and if that was to happen then they are a little bit light after that.’

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