Opinion

How Morgan Rogers’ £117m transfer to Chelsea may actually concern Everton

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There was some very big transfer news on Saturday, as Chelsea reached an agreement to sign Morgan Rogers, but the development may not be good news for Everton.

Ahead of England’s game with France at the World Cup, news filtered through that Chelsea had agreed to pay Aston Villa £117 million to sign Rogers.

That will make him the new British record transfer.

How likely do you think it is that Everton could lose Iliman Ndiaye this summer? 😬

Surely a player of his quality will want to showcase himself on the top stage 🤩

Iliman Ndiaye ahead of playing for Everton.
Credit: Getty Images/Simon Stacpoole/Offside

It was quite the story, as Rogers appeared on course to join Arsenal.

But money has talked, and he will now be playing his football at Stamford Bridge next season.

And Everton may now need to brace for impact over Iliman Ndiaye as a result.

Arsenal and Aston Villa could now make Iliman Ndiaye move

Morgan Rogers playing for England.
Photo by Marvin Ibo Guengoer – GES Sportfoto/Getty Images

Arsenal had been pushing to sign Rogers, but must now look at alternatives following the agreement with Chelsea.

By many accounts, it’s expected that move will go through with no issues.

But who might they go after?

Worryingly, Arsenal have been linked with a move for Ndiaye this summer (via Metro), and it’s possible they could now come calling for Everton’s number 10.

Ndiaye is not the same powerful ball carrier as Rogers, but he does play the same positions. He’s not as physically strong, but he’s arguably a better dribbler.

Iliman Ndiaye for Everton
Appearances – 71
Goals – 17
Assists – 3

The Gunners may now shift their focus to the Everton man – and they may not be the only ones.

Villa clearly now need a replacement for Rogers, and perhaps it’s not out of the question that they could also try to land Ndiaye.

They’re bringing in £117 million for Rogers, so they shouldn’t have any issues tabling a very large bid for Everton’s talisman.

Both Arsenal and Aston Villa have Champions League football to offer, which is key.

Just before World Cup, Ndiaye talked about his desire to play Champions League football, which many took as the player inviting clubs to make bids for him this summer.

Iliman Ndiaye playing for Everton.
Photo by Vince Mignott/MB Media/Getty Images

No bids have come in for him yet. But in light of Rogers’ move to Chelsea, it would not be a surprise if either Arsenal or Villa came calling.

Everton obviously want to keep Ndiaye, and doing that will be crucial to building on last season.

But the Toffees may well have to brace for large bids, and also the player potentially agitating for a move after his previous comments.