Man City Interested in Re-Signing Key Attacker from Aston Villa | OneFootball

Manchester City Reignite Interest in Morgan Rogers

From Academy Exit to Premier League Breakout

Football, at its core, is a game of timing. For Morgan Rogers, the clock has finally ticked in his favour. Once deemed surplus to requirements by Manchester City, the 21-year-old is now on their radar once again following a breakout season at Aston Villa.

As reported by TEAMtalk, “City want to sign Rogers from Villa. The attacker was on City’s books from 2019 until 2023, but spent a good chunk of that time out on loan, before being sold to Middlesbrough for just £1million.” It was a quiet exit at the time, but the forward’s return to prominence has been anything but.

After a fruitful stint with Middlesbrough, Rogers made the step up to Villa Park, a move that could rise to £15 million. Now in his second season, he’s amassed 12 goals and 11 assists in all competitions and has earned his England debut. That level of form has naturally caught the eye – particularly Pep Guardiola, who is reportedly “in love” with the player’s development and style.

Photo: IMAGO

Creative Revival and Premier League Attraction

City aren’t alone in their admiration. There is said to be interest from Liverpool and unnamed foreign clubs, but Guardiola’s personal affection for Rogers could give City the edge. “Sources state that City boss Guardiola ‘loves’ Rogers, and has ‘serious hopes’ of landing him,” reports TEAMtalk.

It’s a flattering position for the youngster, but it won’t come easily. Villa handed Rogers a contract extension in November, raising his weekly wage from £20,000 to £75,000, a clear indicator of their belief in him. Club sources insist it would take a “mammoth offer” to consider selling the forward.

Still, City are no strangers to paying premium fees – but the Grealish example serves as a cautionary tale.

Grealish Warning Looms Large

Rogers’ case mirrors Jack Grealish in more ways than one – a Midlands star with flair and creative spark, linked to a dominant force in Manchester. Grealish’s switch to City came with immense expectation, yet the flame that once lit up Villa Park has often flickered rather than flared at the Etihad.

As TEAMtalk notes, “a few years as a Citizen seems to have taken his spark away, and it would be a crying shame were that to happen to Rogers, too.”

Photo IMAGO

City fans will want the next attacking addition to enhance rather than blend in. Rogers’ humility in reflecting on his previous stint at the club is refreshing. “I wasn’t good enough, simple as that… it wasn’t the right player at the right time for me or the club,” he admitted in a recent interview during his England duty.

That self-awareness, coupled with his recent form, suggests he may now be ready for the return.

Big Decisions Loom at the Etihad

Rogers’ potential return comes as City face transition. Kevin De Bruyne has confirmed his departure, with the MLS his likely destination. A wider squad reshuffle is expected, with names like Bernardo Silva, Jack Grealish, and Ederson reportedly linked with exits.

Amid ongoing investigations and off-pitch turbulence, City are looking to reshape – carefully. Rogers may represent a piece of that puzzle: hungry, familiar with the club’s culture, yet redefined by experience elsewhere.

Photo: IMAGO

Our View – EPL Index Analysis

For Manchester City fans, the name Morgan Rogers may evoke mixed emotions. He was once just another youth talent lost to the system – now, he’s the one who got away. That he’s made his mark elsewhere and returned to prominence is a narrative any supporter can admire.

The idea of re-signing Rogers feels both nostalgic and necessary. With De Bruyne departing and others on the brink, City need to inject not just quality but character into their dressing room. Rogers, shaped by rejection and rebirth, embodies both.

But there’s wariness too. The Grealish move hasn’t fully paid off. The concern isn’t Rogers’ talent – it’s whether City’s system is capable of preserving individual flair. Guardiola often moulds rather than unleashes. The hope for fans is that Rogers, with his confidence rebuilt, could offer the type of direct, instinctive attacking threat that the team has missed in certain moments this season.

Ultimately, if Guardiola truly “loves” him, as sources claim, fans will trust the process. Rogers’ story isn’t just about returning home – it’s about proving he belongs on the biggest stage, for good this time.