Why Middlesbrough will want Aston Villa to fail in Champions League pursuit | OneFootball

Morgan Rogers' transfer situation in B6 could have major implications for the Reds

Middlesbrough's fine season in the Championship has got many of the Teesside natives dreaming that Premier League football could be back on the agenda at the Riverside Stadium in a few months' time.

The Reds have endured a season of chaos and excitement in equal measure, with Kim Hellberg largely able to build on the fast start they embarked on under Rob Edwards' prior stewardship - that was until his rather controversial exit to Wolverhampton Wanderers in mid-November.

The Riverside Stadium outfit are currently locked in an exciting automatic promotion battle with the likes of Ipswich Town and Millwall, and it is still anybody's guess as to which of the three sides are likely to join Coventry City in the top-flight for the 2026/27 campaign.

It has been nine long years since the North East club last graced the elite level of English football, having endured two failed play-off campaigns since their most recent relegation, as they suffered defeats to Aston Villa and the aforementioned Sky Blues in 2018 and 2023 respectively.

That isn't to say that there hasn't been any players who have passed through the club during said timeframe that have showcased high levels of quality and potential, though.

And it's also fair to suggest that chiefs at the Riverside will now have their eyes on developments at Villa Park for a key reason - one which could impact their transfer strategy for the coming months, regardless of how the promotion race unfolds.

Middlesbrough will hope Aston Villa fail in Champions League race amid Morgan Rogers news

Just two years ago, Middlesbrough and Villa last faced off in competitive action in a 1-0 win for the West Midlands side in the FA Cup third round - a clash in which Unai Emery certainly got a glimpse of Morgan Rogers' talent in red and white.

The attacking midfielder had only been plucked out of Manchester City by Middlesbrough a matter of months beforehand for just £1m - a figure which has since proven to look beyond a 'bargain' when assessing the Halesowen native's potential ceiling and recent progress.

Rogers accumulated seven goals and nine assists in just 33 appearances for Boro, and although it was a surprise that he moved to Villa Park so soon, the initial £8m investment secured by the B6 club has also proven to be a remarkable deal from their perspective.

Even though the deal, which could still rise to £16m, also feels like a 'steal' for many, Boro are still set to land an exciting windfall, due to a significant sell-on clause that was inserted into the negotiations.

With Rogers currently a star performer for Emery's side in the race for the Champions League, it has been claimed that the 13-time England ace has been valued at £100m amid interest from Chelsea and Manchester United.

It is unclear what figure the clause is at, but, regardless, the North East club will still be licking their lips at the funds which could enter their coffers.

At present, the two sides interested in the playmaker are currently sandwiching Villa and Liverpool in the race for Europe's most prestigious competition, although there is talk that the Villans may have to sell Rogers to comply with PSR regulations, with the club's struggles on that front well-documented.

However, there is also the obvious caveat that Villa could finish anywhere in the Premier League table and still qualify for next season's Champions League if they were to win a first major trophy in 30 years by securing the UEFA Europa League, in which they face Bologna in the quarter-finals.

Morgan Rogers starring for England could help Middlesbrough land financial bonus

Rogers, of course, has been a part of the England setup since debuting in November 2024 under Thomas Tuchel, and it would be no surprise if he was selected in the 26-man squad for the upcoming FIFA World Cup.

There are no guarantees that the midfielder would start for the Three Lions, but those at the Riverside, as well as at Villa Park, will be hoping their former star has a successful tournament, which begins with group matches against Croatia, Ghana and Panama, to continue driving the aforementioned valuation up.

By that point, the stars will also have aligned as to whether Rogers will be facing off against Middlesbrough in the Premier League next season or not, too, with the regular Championship season ending on May 2nd, whilst the play-off final takes place three weeks later at Wembley Stadium.

Therefore, knowing it or not, Rogers is having a direct impact on how the Reds' financial landscape could lie, as well as potentially helping them invest sizeable transfer fees and wage packets for future signings.