Middlesbrough: Steve Gibson will be on red alert as Arsenal, Morgan Rogers news emerges | OneFootball

Steve Gibson will be keeping a close eye on Morgan Rogers' situation this summer as Middlesbrough are in line for a major windfall

Middlesbrough's defeat to Hull City in the Championship play-off final last season meant the Teesside outfit missed out on football's most lucrative prize money, though they could yet be in line for a huge windfall before the end of the summer.

Whilst last season didn't end as those at Middlesbrough would have hoped, there is still huge cause for optimism ahead of next year.

Under Kim Hellberg, Boro played some of the best football in the Championship, and though just two wins in their final ten league games saw them plummet from the automatic positions and into the play-offs, most supporters understood the vision the Swedish head coach was attempting to implement.

With Southampton expelled from the play-offs for spying, Middlesbrough were thrust into the final against Hull City, with Oli McBurnie's late strike resigning Boro to another year in the second tier as a result.

Missing out on a place in the Premier League and a potential £180 million to £220 million prize windfall will sting for Boro, although not everything is doom and gloom at the Riverside, as the club could yet be in line for a large influx of money arriving their way soon.

Steve Gibson will be fixated on Arsenal's pursuit of Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers

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As Middlesbrough prepare for their tenth consecutive season in the Championship following relegation from the Premier League back in 2017, owner Steve Gibson will be desperate to see his club back in the top flight once again next year, especially after falling at the final hurdle last time around.

Myles Peart-Harris remains their only new addition thus far, joining on a free transfer from Oxford United, as Jeremy Sarmiento's loan from Brighton and Hove Albion has become permanent.

Aston Villa forward Lewis Dobbin has been linked with a switch to Teesside, as has Hull City striker Kyle Joseph, as Hellberg looks to reinforce his attacking options at the Riverside ahead of next season.

With Boro yet to spend big following the opening of the summer window, one key factor may drastically affect their spending power, as not only are they looking for Villa to do them a favour in a deal for Dobbin, but they will be hoping the Midlands outfit can strike a record-breaking deal for the sale of Morgan Rogers, with Arsenal lurking.

Rogers, 23, has been one of the Premier League's most outstanding players over the past couple of seasons, becoming Villa's main man in attack, and as a result, has been linked with lucrative switches elsewhere.

The England international came through the ranks at West Bromwich Albion before completing a potential £6 million move to Manchester City in 2019, where he would spend time out on loan with Lincoln City, Bournemouth, and Blackpool, before joining Boro on a permanent deal in the summer of 2023 for just £1 million.

Seven goals and nine assists in 33 appearances led Aston Villa to pay a potential £16 million for the forward, with Boro crucially inserting a 20 percent sell-on clause into the deal that saw him head to Villa Park.

Now, Rogers is being linked with a move worth well over £100 million, with TEAMtalk reporting that only an offer worth more than £116 million, the fee Manchester City recently paid for Elliot Anderson, is acceptable.

Should a bid worth £120 million be accepted, Boro would be in line for around a £24 million windfall due to their clause in the deal, which would completely transform their summer window as a result.

Villa will likely push the fee to be as lucrative as possible in the event of any sale for their own benefit, but Boro will too be encouraging the Europa League champions to bump up the fee as much as possible.

Boro owner Gibson will be licking his lips at the prospect of Rogers' sale this summer, with that sell-on clause proving to be an absolute masterstroke in terms of negotiating from Middlesbrough's perspective.

Middlesbrough will be hoping a deal for Morgan Rogers can be concluded swiftly so they can turn up their summer business

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As Boro wait and see the verdict on Rogers' fate this summer, there will be growing anticipation surrounding Teesside that the deal is concluded as soon as possible.

Although Middlesbrough don't lack funds, any lucrative sale of Rogers would almost certainly completely transform their summer window and the type of deals they would be capable of doing.

Head coach Hellberg will be just as keen as Gibson to see any deal for the England international concluded swiftly, as the sooner Rogers is sold, the more scope and time it provides Boro to make moves in the market.

As Arsenal linger, Boro will be hoping the Gunners can come to an agreement with Villa sooner rather than later, with much of their summer window hinging on this deal.