Chelsea have reportedly identified the former Boro forward as a summer target, and while Aston Villa would obviously want to keep the England international, national reports claim profit and sustainability rules could force certain top flight clubs into an unwanted ‘transfer churn’ this summer.
The Independent claims Chelsea sense there might be an opportunity to do business with Villa, whose wage bill is over 90% of their revenue, according to their latest accounts.
And if Rogers was to move, Boro would benefit financially, with the Championship club having inserted a very healthy sell-on fee in the deal that that took the former Manchester City youngster to Villa Park in January, 2024.
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Boro have already benefited from a string of add-ons, with Rogers having helped Villa qualify for the Champions League and played his way into the England squad over the course of the last 15 months.
Rogers joined Boro for just £1m in the summer of 2023 but left in a deal worth £16m six months later.
He’s been a revelation at Villa, shining for Unai Emery’s side this season and scoring 14 goals.
Rogers is enormously grateful for Emery and Boro head coach Michael Carrick, who he says have both played key roles in his rapid development over the course of the last couple of years.
He said earlier this year: “Unai has obviously been important with the style of play and what he’s made me; the confidence he’s embedded in me. He’s allowed me to be me and really show my skills.
“Michael Carrick too. He was the coach that spoke to me away from football. There was always a line of communication with him which I thought was vital at that time. I still speak to him now.
“I had a difficult three years going out on loan before Middlesbrough, but I don’t think I’d be the player I am now without the experiences. It gave me the toughness to go through adversity, helped me grow up and learn about myself and what I needed to improve. At that time, I wasn’t ready.”
Looking back on his rise, he said: “Crazy. I just think how everything has happened so quickly, and how every opportunity has just kind of fallen on my lap, and then I’ve just taken it in my stride and moved forward with it.
“There was the move to Aston Villa, that brought Champions League football and playing more games at Premier League level. I made my England debut, Champions League hat-trick… yeah things have been happening so quickly and I’m just so grateful and so happy.”
