Arsenal are reportedly set to accelerate their chase for Aston Villa playmaker Morgan Rogers as they look to bolster their options on the left flank.
With the current state of the transfer market it's rare to label any signing as a bargain, but Villa's £8m addition of Rogers from Middlesbrough in 2023 undoubtedly fits the bill.
After featuring somewhat regularly for the Villans in the second half of the 2023/24 term, Rogers became a mainstay in Unai Emery's side in the 2024/25 season, scoring eight goals and registering 11 assists in 37 Premier League appearances.
He enjoyed a similarly productive 2025/26 season -- once again notching 19 goal contributions in the top-flight -- and Villa may have to manage without him if Mikel Arteta's reigning Premier League champions can strike a deal for the talented England international.
With that said, we take a look at three players who could potentially replace the 23-year-old at Villa Park.
Ibrahim Mbaye
While highly thought of at Paris Saint-Germain, the club are reportedly set to sell Ibrahim Mbaye with the forward seeking regular gametime elsewhere.
The fact that the Frenchman broke into the PSG first team setup at just 16-year-old is testament to the quality that he boasts, especially when taking into consideration the embarrassment of riches that Luis Enrique has at his disposal.
The Parisians' fluidity under Enrique has only benefited Mbaye, with the scintillating prospect competent on both the right and left wing, similarly to Rogers.
He's played less than 2000 minutes for the back-to-back European champions at club level and so it's hard to measure whether he can succeed Rogers immediately, but he's undoubtedly got the skillset to thrive at Villa Park and he could prove a shrewd pickup.
Said El Mala
Barely a week has gone by where Said El Mala hasn't been linked with a Premier League move, and it's no surprise after a breakout season with Koln.
After scoring 13 goals and registering five assists in the third division of German football in the 2024/25 campaign, El Mala recorded the exact same numbers in the Bundesliga in the following term, seamlessly adapting to the greater demands of the top-flight.
Boasting explosive pace and a low centre of gravity, the 19-year-old played the majority of his minutes at left-wing last season but also impressed when employed centrally.
His brilliance is encapsulated by the fact that he is being discussed as a potential target to replace Mohamed Salah at Liverpool. While -- like Mbaye -- he may need time to settle in at Villa Park given his lack of experience at the top, he made the flawless transition in German football so it'd be naive to back against him succeeding in England.
Marcus Rashford
Marcus Rashford's future is far from resolved, returning to Manchester United at the end of the 2025/26 campaign after Barcelona opted against triggering their option to buy.
The Manchester-born forward enjoyed a largely successful six-month loan spell at Villa Park in the second half of the 2024/25 season, brining much-needed pace and flair to a team who had lacked creativity on occasions in the early stages of the term.
While a stay at Old Trafford looks likely at present, it's yet to be seen as to how the 28-year-old will be received upon his return to the club. If relationships are beyond repair at the Red Devils, the prospect of UEFA Champions League football at Villa could prove enticing.
He is currently priced at 16/1 to join forces with Emery for a second time.
Any odds displayed were correct at the time of writing and are subject to fluctuation.
