Chelsea are reportedly targeting a highly rated Premier League attacker to further bolster their forward line – but it relies on a head rolling from their current crop.
The Blues have already spent a whopping £173million on forwards this summer, hoovering up Joao Pedro, Jamie Gittens, Liam Delap, and Estevao Willian.
But Enzo Maresca is not done there and wants to add more firepower to build on their stunning Club World Cup glory.
Chelsea are ready to train their crosshairs on Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers, according to The Telegraph’s Matt Law.
Villa only signed him from Middlesbrough for £15m in January 2024 but with five years left on his contract, and after a brilliant season which saw him score 14 goals and assist a further 15, Chelsea will need to fork out a lot more.
To facilitate his arrival, the Stamford Bridge side will look to sell Nicolas Jackson – perhaps to Villa.
But Mail Sport has already reported how Chelsea have quoted a staggering £100m asking price to AC Milan for Jackson.
The 24-year-old Senegal international arrived from Villarreal two years ago for £32m but has fallen down the pecking order after the arrivals of Pedro and Delap.
While a haul of 30 goals in two years is respectable, there are often doubts that he lacks the cutting edge to truly be a force in the Premier League.
Moreover, a scoop of just four goals since the turn of the year, and a run of two red cards in his last five outings (against Newcastle and Flamengo), have left the Londoners searching for an upgrade.
Rogers’ impact was scintillating at Villa Park last season and he would bring experience of the Champions League to Maresca’s young squad.
Not only that, but he is already well-connected with the team. He became close with Cole Palmer at Manchester City’s academy – indeed, he claims to have invented his ‘cold’ celebration when they were growing up together.
He also knows Delap from City as well as England’s Under-21s, and has played alongside Gittens for Lee Carsley’s outfit too.
Chelsea will be excited about their prospects for the season ahead after hammering PSG – the Champions League victors – 3-0 in the final of the Club World Cup.
As well as signing youngsters Dario Essugo, Mamadou Sarr, and Kendry Paez, they have overhauled their attacking options.
Pedro looks potent after scoring twice on his debut against Fluminense and then again against PSG.
Estevao won the hearts of his new team-mates and fans with a dazzling performance against Chelsea in the Club World Cup quarter-finals despite losing out with Palmeiras.
Delap needs no introduction to Premier League fans after his exploits at Ipswich while Gittens brings lots of promise from his days at Borussia Dortmund.
What’s more, Cole Palmer also looks back to his best after his brace against PSG in the Club World Cup final.
