Morgan Rogers: Carrick and Wilcox pushing United towards summer deal | OneFootball

Manchester United are lacking quality out wide and INEOS are planning to address this once the transfer window opens.

Amad has impressed on the right, but in the absence of Marcus Rashford and Alejandro Garnacho, both exiled by former head coach Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils lack a specialist winger on the left flank.

Patrick Dorgu was trialled there by Michael Carrick before his untimely injury, while Matheus Cunha is occupying the role currently.

Both are better suited to playing elsewhere and INEOS have compiled a list of targets, both from within the Premier League and abroad.

Left winger needed

Yan Diomande of RB Leipzig is reportedly the club’s primary target, but Manchester City’s entry into the race has complicated matters.

Everton’s Iliman Ndiaye has also been linked with a switch to Old Trafford, but the Toffees will make it as hard as possible for the 20-time English league champions to get their man.

The Telegraph have now revealed that Morgan Rogers of Aston Villa, who can play both as an attacking midfielder and as a winger, has been identified as a potential option.

Carrick, who coached the Englishman at Middlesbrough, is a big fan, as is Jason Wilcox, who signed him for City from West Bromwich Albion when he was only 16.

Morgan Rogers is a wanted man

Both are pushing for the signing, but the catch is Villa’s valuation. Given the 23-year-old has a contract at Villa Park till 2031, it makes sense for Unai Emery’s team not to give up without a fight.

They would dearly like to hold on to Morgan Rogers, but given their financial constraints, he is their most saleable asset.

They will likely demand close to £100 million, and with the likes of United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain in the race, that figure is likely to be breached.

“Morgan Rogers is expected to be the Premier League’s most in-demand player this summer with a near-£100m race developing between Manchester United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Paris St-Germain. Rogers can play as a No 10 or as a left-winger and United are considering their options in those areas.

Carrick and Wilcox pushing United to sign Morgan Rogers

“All four clubs are keen on buying Rogers, who would cost close to £100m when add-ons are factored in. The fee demanded by Aston Villa is certainly expected to be in excess of £80m and the price might be driven higher, to an initial £90m, if a bidding war develops.

“Villa do not want to lose Rogers, who signed a new long-term contract until 2031 in November last year, but will still face financial pressures this summer. Rogers has an extremely good relationship with Villa and with manager Unai Emery and is not pushing to move.

“But if an acceptable offer is made it will be looked at and it may be the summer for the club to cash in on a player who has become their most saleable asset. United are strongly interested in Rogers who was signed by their current interim head coach Michael Carrick for £1.5m from Manchester City in February 2024.

“Although he stayed for only six months Rogers established a strong relationship with Carrick, who is looking increasingly likely to get the United job on a long-term basis. Rogers is also known to, and admired by, United’s director of football Jason Wilcox who was City’s academy director and helped bring the attacking midfielder through the ranks at the club, having bought him from West Bromwich Albion as a 16-year-old.”

Can United afford Morgan Rogers?

Morgan Rogers has 10 goals and seven assists this season, and his ability to carry the ball is second to none. His arrival would make United title contenders and he could even replace Bruno Fernandes in the long-term.

Whether United can afford such an outlay, especially given their need to recruit more than one midfielder, will be interesting to see.

Feature image Alex Pantling via Getty Images

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