British record at £116m as Villa gauge Morgan Rogers price, could it fall again? | OneFootball

Elliot Anderson’s £116m move to Manchester City has set a new British transfer record and reset valuations. Aston Villa could again be central, with the fee a yardstick for interest in Morgan Rogers.

According to NY Times, Villa are using Anderson’s price to gauge any Rogers sale, a view also applied at Borussia Dortmund with Felix Nmecha and at Paris Saint-Germain with Bradley Barcola.

Agents have suggested the market needs one big move to spark others, and Anderson’s may be that catalyst. His price surpassed Declan Rice’s £105m switch to Arsenal in 2023, and informs Villa’s thinking.

If Rogers does move, the record could fall again. Villa want more than Anderson’s fee, with the attacking midfielder rated internally among the Premier League’s top five. Others involved believe the number will be lower, with co-owner Nassef Sawiris to decide.

Villa were pioneers before, paying £100 for Willie Groves in 1893. Milestones followed, from Alf Common’s £1,000 transfer in 1905 to John Charles’s £50,000 move to Juventus in 1957, then Trevor Francis as the first £1m player in 1979.

The Premier League era accelerated the curve, from Alan Shearer’s £3.6m and later £15m records to Rio Ferdinand at £30m, Andy Carroll at £35m and Gareth Bale’s £85.3m. Paul Pogba reached £89m, Neymar £195m. Anderson now eclipses Rice as the second nine-figure English player after Jack Grealish.

Source: NY Times