Aston Villa earmark significant £30m move to sign Emery's next Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa’s win over Sunderland last weekend was frantic and dramatic and bereft of the control that has so often defined Unai Emery’s tenure.

But it was a win all the same, and at this stage of the Premier League season, who can begrudge the Villans for their spirit and never-say-die attitude.

With managerless Chelsea having lost five games on the bounce, Emery’s side find themselves ten points clear of sixth place. With the top-five securing passage into the Champions League, this is a commanding position indeed.

Sustainable success attracts high-class players. Aston Villa are also into the semi-finals of the Europa League, pitted against Nottingham Forest.

Aston Villa’s Remaining Premier League Fixtures
Team	Date	League Position
Fulham (A)	25/04/26	12th
Tottenham (H)	03/05/26	18th
Burnley (A)	10/05/26	10th
Liverpool (H)	17/05/26	5th
Man City (A)	24/05/26	1st

Whatever happens, it looks like Villa are going to attract a big name or two in the summer transfer market.

Aston Villa enter race for Premier League star

Aston Villa are set for a big summer, and while Emery will hope to welcome some top talent to consolidate their position back in the Champions League, there is a conundrum emerging, and his name is Morgan Rogers.

It feels like Rogers, who has been described as “one of the world’s best” by pundit Jamie Redknapp, could be angling for a move away this summer, but Villa are stern operators, and they have made it clear that his sale will require a £120m payment.

Replacing him will be a tough task, and NSWE must complete the job in the aggregate. How they do this remains to be confirmed, but moves have been made to sign in-form playmaker Harry Wilson when his contract with Fulham expires in the summer.

First summer deal: Aston Villa edge close to signing a big Sancho upgrade

Aston Villa are expected to sign an upgrade on Jadon Sancho on a free transfer this summer.

The Midlands side will need more in the engine room, though, which is perhaps why they are preparing a summer move for Liverpool’s Curtis Jones, who has grown increasingly frustrated at his lacking playing time under Arne Slot.

That’s according to talkSPORT, who have named Aston Villa as emerging contenders for the England international, adding him to their shortlist ahead of the transfer window.

Tottenham Hotspur and Inter Milan are also ready to make their own moves, and Jones would likely command a transfer fee of around £30m, and with Jones not expected to be on the plane to America this summer, a deal could go smoothly.

Why Jones could be Aston Villa’s new Rogers

Jones, 25, is a seasoned part of the Liverpool set-up, but he’s only started 13 Premier League games this season, and with Slot rumoured to be on track to keep his job,

Jones has long been regarded as a talented midfielder, but he hasn’t always earned the opportunities he has wanted. At 25, he is entering the prime of his career, and Villa could offer him the launchpad he is looking for.

Could Aston Villa be set to complete a Rogers repeat with this player, hungry for success? Rogers joined from Middlesbrough in the Championship, but he was grown at Manchester City’s youth labs, touted for big things in his early days.

Jones is a product of Liverpool’s academy, and he has gone one better and played 223 times for his boyhood club. Now, he could hit the next level as a controlling force in the midfield for Emery’s outfit, combining with Rogers (should he stay).

Curtis Jones’ Premier League Playing Time
Season	Apps	Minutes
25/26	29	1,483′
24/25	33	1,711′
23/24	23	1,166′
22/23	18	1,039′
21/22	15	856′
20/21	24	1,178′
19/20	6	122′

One scout has even called him “one of the most underrated players in England”, and while Rogers is riding the crest of a wave at Villa Park, Jones has the all-action ability to follow in his footsteps, one-upping Harvey Elliott as the loanee languishes on the sidelines.

Jones’ passing game is strong. In the Premier League this season, he has completed 92% of his passes and 65% of his dribbles, making a firm comment on his ability to retain the ball while driving into dangerous positions.

That’s something Rogers excels out, and while Jones isn’t an out-and-out attacking midfielder, he would bring an element of his countryman’s style that could go down a treat next season – even if Rogers ends up staying.

Jones has not played enough at Liverpool this season. He is better than that. At Aston Villa, he could find the perfect place to develop into a leading Premier League midfielder, as his technical quality and tenacious attitude suggest is within his capacity.