Arsenal: Morgan Rogers, Rodrygo and Gunners' latest plan for overhaul of attack this summer
Arsenal are admirers of Morgan Rogers - but they would face a fight to land the Aston Villa star this summer.
The Gunners are in the market for attacking reinforcements during the upcoming transfer window and they want to sign a wide forward, as well as a striker.
Advertisement
Arsenal are tracking a number of targets and Rogers is believed to be a player that the recruitment team at the club like.
A deal for the 22-year-old, however, will be tough to complete as Villa view him as a key part of their plans.
Rogers was a top performer for the club last season and finished the campaign with 10 goals and eight assists in 37 Premier League games.
The attacking midfielder has shone under Unai Emery and, in December of last year, spoke glowingly about working under him.
'Him (Emery) and Pep [Guardiola] are kind of similar in a way,' Rogers told TNT Sports.
'In terms of the way they structure their teams, in terms of the way that they're so demanding of you, structurally and tactically.
Advertisement
'But obviously working closer with Unai Emery than I did obviously with Pep, we've got that relationship where it's like a love-hate kind of thing.
Morgan Rogers was a standout performer for Aston Villa last season (REUTERS)
'He wants the best of me. He's going to be demanding. He's going to be on top of me non-stop throughout the week, because he knows my capabilities.
'He knows what I can do. He wants to push me, wants to improve me and that's the best way for me. With me and him, it's perfect.'
Arsenal have looked at several attacking targets and they are long-term admirers of Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams.
Leroy Sane could be available on a free transfer if he refuses to sign a new contract with Bayern Munich, but his wage demands may prove problematic.
Advertisement
Rodrygo has also been linked with Arsenal over the past week, however whether he is available this summer will only become clearer once he has held talks with new Real Madrid boss Xabi Alonso.
If Rodrygo does come on the market, he would likely attract interest from a host of clubs from all over Europe.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
35 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Kane saves England as Dutch and Austrians open World Cup campaigns with wins
England kept their World Cup qualifying on track with an ugly 1-0 win while Austria and the Netherlands made belated starts to their campaigns with victories on Saturday. Harry Kane's 72nd international goal ensured England avoided the ultimate embarrassment of failing to beat Andorra. Even so, Thomas Tuchel's side were booed off in Barcelona after struggling to impress against a team ranked 173rd in the world. Advertisement Tuchel is the first England manager to win his first three competitive games without conceding a goal. But given the paucity of opposition provided by Andorra, Latvia and Albania in the Group K qualifiers, that achievement rings a little hollow after this miserable display. "I'm not happy with the performance. We completely lost the momentum and couldn't get it back. We ended up in a place that was not good enough in terms of urgency," Tuchel said. "We can just admit it that it's not what we expect from us. I was most worried in the last 20 minutes because I didn't like the attitude we ended the game with. Advertisement "I didn't like the lack of urgency. It did not match the occasion. It is still a World Cup qualifier." England pulled five points clear after three matches in Group K as second-placed Albania drew 0-0 at home with Serbia. Rey Manaj of Albania wasted a penalty in first-half added time. Serbia was one of three teams playing their first qualifying match Saturday after they had been involved in Nations League playoffs. Netherlands made their debut with a crisp 2-0 win over Finland in Helsinki. Memphis Depay scored after six minutes. Denzil Dumfries, one week after his unhappy experience playing for Inter Milan in the Champions League final, added the second after 23 minutes. Advertisement Netherlands jumped to third in Group G, overtaking Lithuania and Malta who drew 0-0. The Dutch are one point behind Finland and three behind leaders Poland who did not play. Marcel Sabitzer and Michael Gregoritsch scored as Austria beat Romania 2-1 in Vienna. Florin Tanase headed an added-time reply for the visitors who had squandered several chances in the closing stages. Bosnia-Herzegovina lead Group H on nine points after Edin Dzeko scored the only goal in a 1-0 victory home over San Marino. Romania, Cyprus and Austria all have three points. smg-pb/
New York Times
38 minutes ago
- New York Times
Canada clinical vs. Ukraine as Buchanan bounces back, David tandem shines
TORONTO – Jesse Marsch went into this summer hoping to learn more about who he can and can't count on in his Canada side with the 2026 World Cup a little over a year away. Following a clinical 4-2 friendly win over Ukraine, the Canada head coach likely has some answers. That a Canada side missing two of its near-guaranteed starters in the 2026 World Cup, Alphonso Davies and Alistair Johnston, kept a strong Ukraine side on its heels is promising for Marsch. That it got strong performances from players with just a handful of appearances for Canada means Marsch has every reason to believe this is one of his team's most inspired performances in recent memory. Advertisement Yes, Ukraine largely looked listless close to goal in the first half. Though Ukraine mounted a push early in the second half and tacked on two late consolation goals, including a penalty goal from Arsenal's Oleksandr Zinchenko, it was largely a half step slower compared to Canada. That shouldn't discount how efficient Canada was with the ball and how well it closed down on Ukraine defenders in a rather comprehensive victory. Here are The Athletic's takeaways from the match: Jonathan David did as Jonathan David does, scoring in bunches to propel Canada to the win – and also propel his value on the club market higher and higher. There were questions about whether Marsch would start David against Ukraine. He is out of contract after five years at Lille and is weighing options ahead of a massive summer move, meaning he risks injury by playing before signing elsewhere. But with his national-record-padding 33rd and 34th goals for Canada, David answered all questions about his capabilities right now. GOAL 🇨🇦 JONATHAN DAVID opens the scoring, rounding off a bit of brilliance by Tajon Buchanan ✨#CanMNT go up 1-0 over Ukraine early in this one 😎 🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer & TSN — OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 7, 2025 GOAL 🇨🇦🇨🇦 TAJON TO J. DAVID AGAIN 🤯 Buchanan's ice-cold first touch sets up a cross for an even colder glancing header by Jonathan David and the #CanMNT go up 2-0 over Ukraine 🇺🇦 🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer & TSN — OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 7, 2025 David's play overshadowed his new strike partner with the same surname, Promise David. The 23-year-old hulking forward made his Canada debut – and looked like it, too. Promise David mistimed a few balls to his new strike partner and didn't offer enough pace and sharpness close to goal. There's a ton of anticipation surrounding a player who burst onto the scene for Union SG in Belgium this season, scoring 11 goals in 24 first-division matches. For most of the first half, Promise David acted like a player who was trying to prove his qualities instead of letting them shine naturally. He relaxed after he banged his first Canada goal past Ukraine goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin in the 31st minute. The goal was the result of his forcing Ukraine's back line into a turnover and then having the poise to finish. GOAL 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 PROMISE DAVID SCORES FOR THE #CANMNT 💥 🇨🇦 Canada go up 3-0 over Ukraine in the 1st half 🇺🇦 🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer & TSN — OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 7, 2025 After a touchline chat with Marsch, Promise David was substituted at halftime for another emerging forward, Daniel Jebbison. And so for now, Promise David deserves the benefit of the doubt. The two Davids bring such complementary qualities up front, and it makes sense to play them as a tandem if Canada can maintain at least close to the majority of possession. Promise David's athleticism speaks for itself, but he doesn't look like he can be depended on to press heavily just yet. If Canada can continue to find space on the flanks and move the ball towards the middle of the park as it did early on, he could develop into a lethal option. Advertisement Canada opened the scoring four minutes after the first kick thanks to a remarkable run from a player who needed to have a strong performance. Tajon Buchanan has not looked like the dynamic wide player who was Canada's best performer at the 2022 World Cup. His confidence had looked shot for Canada as of late, and Buchanan has hardly been as pacy and electric since returning from a devastating leg injury at Copa América – until Saturday. Buchanan kept Ukraine's back line on its toes and moved with purpose on the tail end of some smart Canadian build-up. As Buchanan darted toward the Ukraine goal, he found a player he often does, and the uber-intelligent Jonathan David sniffed out his own space and tapped home his own rebound. Then 20 minutes later, it was lather, rinse, repeat, as a purposeful run from Buchanan led to a quick cross that David expertly headed home. That kind of connection is one Marsch will need to lean on for Canada to have success against strong opponents. Buchanan then punctuated his game with an 81st-minute goal and his trademark backflip. As he stuck the landing, it was official: Buchanan is back for Canada. GOAL 🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦🇨🇦 TAJON BUCHANAN GETS HIS GOAL 😎#CanMNT go up 4-0 over Ukraine 🇺🇦 as Tajon scores off a set piece routine ✨ 🔴 Watch LIVE on OneSoccer & TSN — OneSoccer (@onesoccer) June 7, 2025 There's added significance that comes with his showing. Marsch is using the June window to test the depth of his squad. He wants to audition multiple players to see whether they can respond to his demands and whether they can be counted on against decent opposition. Given Buchanan's up-and-down play for Canada as of late, his position in the starting XI wasn't completely safe moving forward. That might change after Saturday. Canada's coaching staff has wanted Buchanan to cut inside with the ball more and more. As he did against Ukraine, he opened up plenty of space for his forwards. Buchanan likely showed the coaching staff it can continue to count on him as he surged forward into more of an attacking midfield role – a place where there presently isn't much depth. Advertisement Flash back to the 2022 World Cup: Buchanan earned a transfer to Inter Milan largely on the back of his lights-out play. After completing a loan from Inter to Villarreal, another move could be in the cards this summer if Buchanan plays like he did against Ukraine. When faced with his three Vancouver Whitecaps players still feeling ill after their Concacaf Champions Cup final game in Mexico, Marsch elected to lean on young, unproven players in a friendly. Five of Marsch's starters had just eight international appearances between them: Zorhan Bassong, Promise David, Luc De Fougerolles, Nathan Saliba and Niko Sigur. And all showed reason for optimism in the future. David scored in his Canada debut. Bassong was confident playing the ball out of the back. De Fougerolles stepped into traffic with poise and directed players around him in a way you wouldn't expect out of a 19-year-old center back. Saliba showed quality dribbling confidently out of a deeper-lying midfield role. As for Sigur, he was perhaps the best of the bunch. There was a physical edge in his defensive play that made him look bigger than his 5-foot-9 frame. His smarts make him valuable in any position, but it's that edge that Marsch craves. In his first start for Canada, Sigur delivered that. Expect more starts this summer in the Gold Cup and for Sigur to push for a starting spot in the 2026 World Cup. Marsch then went for even more youth in the second half, bringing on 20-year-old center back Jamie Knight-Lebel to close down the game. Knight-Lebel tracked Ukraine defenders well and showed just enough snarl beside De Fougerolles. Having a center back pair with a combined age of 39 against the 25th-ranked team in FIFA's rankings? The future is bright.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Former footballer Clarke Carlisle wins £100k on The 1% Club for Soccer Aid
The 1% Club returned tonight (June 7) with a special episode for Soccer Aid. Comedian Lee Mack returned to present the show but this time he was joined by 100 celebrities and sports stars as opposed to the general public. They were put to the test in the quiz where 'the questions have nothing to do with remembering facts, but are all about logic and common sense', explains the Radio Times. The aim of the game was to make it to the end, answering the 1% question correctly to take home up to £100,000 for charity and they were successful. It's the 1% question... Three Lions, two words. What are they? #The1PercentClub — The 1% Club (@1PercentClubITV) June 7, 2025 At the very end of the show, only two celebrities remained with a chance at making the overall donation total £100,000. Unlike regular versions of the show, the celebrities were working together rather than against each other like members of the public would. While comedian Lloyd Griffith got the final question incorrect, former footballer Clarke Carlisle answered it correctly and won the prize money. Carlisle has also previously been named Britain's Brainiest Footballer. The prize fund included £1,000 from celebrities who were out of the show, having answered a question incorrectly. Former Leeds United defender Clarke Carlisle (once crowned Britain's Brainiest Footballer) has won £100k for UNICEF by absolutely smashing the 1% Club without even using a PASS. Leeds That 🍾👌👏🔥💪#footballnews #champions #marchingontogether #championship #footballlife — All Leeds Away (@allleedsaway) June 7, 2025 ITV said: 'Find out how clever you are as Lee Mack presents the quiz where it doesn't matter how good you are at quizzes and where 100 contestants could win up to 100,000 pounds.' As pointed out by the Radio Times, the show isn't about knowing facts, it's about using your brain to answer the questions. Each player gets one pass which they can use to help them skip a question but once they have used it, an incorrect answer takes them out of the game. If they make it to the 1% question, they are asked to go down to the stage for the final question where they see if they are winners. Recommended reading: Fans cry soap is 'robbed' at British Soap Awards as 'chaos' halts start to show Coronation Street icon of 25 years leaves show tonight after huge decision Tom Felton to reprise role of Draco Malfoy in Broadway Harry Potter stage show While a full lineup wasn't revealed by ITV, some promotions for the show saw a few famous faces preparing for their stint on the show. Among those famous faces were comedian Paddy McGuinness, rapper Aitch and Love Island narrator Iain Stirling. Brother and sister duo Scarlette and Stuart Douglas went up against each other in the quiz with Stuart saying he hoped to do better than his sister. Catch up with all episodes of The 1% Club on ITVX.
