It was reported today by the leading journalists that Morgan Rogers is Chelsea’s new signing, and we have to talk a little about this transfer because it has broken records.
The fee is €137 million, or £117 million, and honestly, I do not have much to say about that. The market is inflated, yes, but this is simply the new normal. If you want a player from this level, this calibre, you have to be prepared to pay these kinds of fees.
Arsenal were fully committed to signing Rogers, but Chelsea came from behind, accelerated the deal, paid what was required and now we are left with a slightly ironic situation: the team that won the Premier League failed to secure the player, and he is joining a side that finished tenth. Yes, it is Chelsea, but the project has been chaotic. Xabi Alonso could change that, and he has everything needed to do so, but right now it is still chaos. That is what makes the situation so ironic.
We are talking about a fantastic player, one I personally rate very highly, who is coming off another strong season with Aston Villa. I know he is not universally loved because there are matches where he fades out of the game and delivers poor performances, but then he produces those magical moments that very few players are capable of.
He can play in several positions, and that versatility is another reason why he is so valuable. You have Cole Palmer, who technically plays in the same role, but Rogers can also operate out wide before drifting inside. Palmer himself has occasionally been used in wider positions, at least a couple of times that I can remember, but honestly, I was not a fan of how it worked.
Conclusion
There is not much to criticise Chelsea for here. It is a top-class signing for a club that wants to get back to the very top.
The criticism is aimed more at Arsenal, who wanted the player but failed to get the deal done, even though they are, quite literally, my team in England.