Unai Emery has confirmed Villa are in talks with Morgan Rogers over a new contract.
The forward signed a five-and-a-half year deal when he joined from Middlesbrough for an initial £8million in January but Villa want to reward his impressive performances with improved and extended terms.
Halesowen-born Rogers has rapidly established himself as an integral part of Emery’s team, starting every match in the Premier League and Champions League this season.
The 22-year-old Albion academy product has scored five goals in 20 top flight appearances since joining Villa and Emery believes he is only going to get better.
“Yes, we want to extend his contract – already he’s progressing a lot,” he said.
“But I want more from him. I think he can do more.
“What’s most important is that we want to extend his contract. We want him to be here for a long time hopefully.
“I think a player like him, young, with the potential and the talent he has, for me to exploit it is another challenge for me here.”
Rogers would become the third senior Villa player to sign a new contract this season.
Top scorer Jhon Duran last month signed an extension through to 2030 in a deal which included a significant increase in pay, while goalkeeper Emi Martinez signed a new five-year deal in the summer.
Fourth-placed Villa are back in action tomorrow when they visit Tottenham in the Premier League.
This is according to a report from the unai emery men are under no pressure to tie Rogers down, as his existing deal is set to last until the summer of 2029. Instead, the proposed new deal will be a reward for his fine form and to solidify his status as a key member of the team.
So far this season, Rogers has made 12 appearances in all competitions for the Villans in both the Premier League and the Champions League – in those game, he has scored two goals and has notched up three assists along the way. An adaptable attacking player, Rogers can play on either wing or as a number ten.
He has been named in all of Villa’s Premier League starting line-ups this season – a testament to how important he has become at Villa Park. Furthermore, he has also played in all of their Champions League games.
He made his start in football at West Bromwich Albion in the Baggies’ academy. After nine years at the Hawthorns, he made the jump to Manchester City’s youth system – however, he would never make a senior appearance for the club in the Premier League. After a series of loan moves to clubs such as Lincoln City, Bournemouth and Blackpool, Rogers was snapped up by Middlesbrough for an undisclosed fee.
Following a strong season with Boro, he popped up on Villa’s radar and was subsequently signed by Villa for another undisclosed fee, thought to be in the region of £8 million (which could rise to £15 million).
Rogers’ stock has risen tremendously over the last few months – so much so that certain sections of the England fanbase are calling for him to be included in the next Three Lions squad. Emery himself has also expressed surprise that he has not been added to England’s senior squad.
He has featured prolifically for England at youth level – he has featured for their U15, U16, U17, U18, U20 and U21s outfits. Currently, he is still an active member of the U21s, having made six appearances and scored four goals for them.
Speaking on the possibility of getting an England call up, Rogers said: “It is motivation for me. They are obviously all great players who are doing well but so am I. Why can’t it be me next? It is just motivation.
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