Chelsea target shock transfer for Cole Palmer's close friend Morgan Rogers as Blues look to take advantage of Aston Villa's financial situation

Rogers quickly cemented his place in Unai Emery's starting line-up after joining Villa from Middlesbrough in early 2024. In the current campaign, the attacking midfielder has scored 14 goals, provided 13 assists and played a key role in the team reaching the quarter-finals of the Champions League.

While the Villans consider Rogers to be an integral part of the team and are not thinking of parting ways with him this summer, their financial vulnerability might force them to offload some of their key men in the upcoming summer transfer window. According to The Independent, under the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR), Villa have spent more than 90 per cent of their revenues on their wage bill. While reaching the last-eight stage in the Champions League has certainly helped financially, Emery's men may need to qualify for the 2025-26 edition to avoid being forced to sell.

After their loss to Manchester City last week, the Villa Park side are now trailing the fifth and sixth-placed teams, Chelsea and Nottingham Forest, by three points. If they eventually fail to make it back to the top tier of European football, Chelsea will supposedly look to take advantage of the situation and could tempt Villa into selling Rogers, who is close friends with the Blues' talisman Palmer from their time together at Manchester City.

Enzo Maresca's side will be back in action this Thursday as they take on Djurgarden in the first leg of their Conference League semi-final. Another busy summer lies ahead beyond the Premier League season.