It has been a badly-kept secret that Chelsea are very keen on signing Morgan Rogers from Aston Villa, although they are facing significant competition for his signature.
The Blues have been fans of Rogers for over a year now, and their interest remains even after the hiring of Xabi Alonso as the club’s new manager.
Previous reports stated that Chelsea were ready to launch a £90m bid to Villa, although that will not come close to the £130m valuation the Premier League club have placed on him.
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Chelsea can use Nicolas Jackson in deal to sign Morgan Rogers
With Arsenal very keen on signing Rogers after their Premier League title-winning campaign, Chelsea know they will need to pull off something special in order to win the race.
However, the Blues have a secret weapon up their sleeve which only they can offer in the form of Nicolas Jackson, who will return to the club this summer.
Bayern Munich decided not to make his signing permanent, and is now using the World Cup in an attempt to convince a side to give him an opportunity next season.
Chelsea won’t have been too impressed by his performances so far, although Villa manager Unai Emery is a notable fan of the striker after their time working together at Villarreal.
Jackson’s agent was pushing for him to join Villa last summer, and he would be the benefactor of featuring in the Champions League next season should he make the move there.
Swap deals are very rare in football, but players going both ways in separate transactions is not, and would certainly bolster Chelsea’s chances if they have to pay a Premier League record fee.
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Chelsea really need Rogers
Chelsea’s transfer window so far has revolved around strengthening the defence, although there is still a glaring issue in attack which needs addressing.
A new left-winger is an imperative this summer after the club dropped the ball with the signings of Alejandro Garnacho and Jamie Gittens.
Enzo Maresca was unable to get the best out of the duo, and it is unlikely that Alonso will be able to as well as he looks for a strong start at Stamford Bridge.
Rogers can play in multiple positions in the frontline, and bringing him in to play on the left would make him a revolutionary addition to the squad.
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