“Instant response”- Fabrizio Romano says Tottenham made calls to sign £100m star last night after Eze hijack
Tottenham Hotspur are weighing up a late summer swoop for Aston Villa star Morgan Rogers after missing out on their long-term target Eberechi Eze, according to senior correspondent Fabrizio Romano of GIVEMESPORT.
The North London club suffered a major setback earlier this week when Eze, who had been heavily courted by Spurs for much of the window, opted to join their fiercest city rivals Arsenal instead. The Crystal Palace playmaker is now on the verge of linking up with Mikel Arteta’s side in a blockbuster transfer worth a reported £68 million, ending Tottenham’s hopes of securing his signature.
With that door firmly closed, Ange Postecoglou’s side have quickly turned their attention elsewhere as the transfer window enters its final stretch. Among the names being considered is Morgan Rogers, one of Aston Villa’s brightest stars and a player who has become central to Unai Emery’s project at Villa Park.
Tottenham’s Ambitious Interest in Rogers
Romano revealed on his YouTube channel that Rogers is seen internally at Tottenham as an ideal replacement target, particularly given his versatility and creative output. However, prising him away from Villa is set to be an enormous challenge. The Midlands club have no intention of selling, especially with just over a week left before the deadline.
“After 10 days of advanced negotiations for Eze, Arsenal appeared on the scene, and Tottenham lost the player,” Romano explained. “Now they’ve started making new calls to explore other opportunities. Internally, one of their dream targets is Morgan Rogers. But it’s very difficult, because Aston Villa don’t want to lose him. People in the industry believe this deal is almost impossible, but Tottenham are definitely thinking about him as a perfect candidate.”
Why Rogers Fits the Bill for Spurs
Rogers is one of English football’s fastest-rising stars. The 23-year-old enjoyed a breakout 2024/25 campaign with Aston Villa, producing 19 goal contributions across 37 Premier League games. His form not only propelled Villa into Champions League contention but also earned him the prestigious PFA Young Player of the Year award.
His development under Emery has been remarkable, with the Spaniard moulding him into a dynamic attacking midfielder capable of playing across the frontline. Recognising his importance, Villa tied him down to a long-term deal less than a year ago, extending his contract until June 2030—a factor that further complicates Tottenham’s hopes of negotiating a transfer.
Spurs’ Urgent Need for Creativity
The timing of Tottenham’s pursuit underscores their urgent need for attacking reinforcements. The squad has been rocked by the departure of former captain Son Heung-min, who joined MLS outfit Los Angeles FC earlier this summer, as well as the devastating blow of James Maddison’s ACL injury in pre-season.
Maddison’s absence is expected to stretch across the entire 2025/26 campaign, leaving Postecoglou without his chief playmaker at a crucial point in his rebuild. With European qualification firmly on Spurs’ agenda, the club cannot afford to enter the season short of creativity and firepower in the final third.
A Difficult, Perhaps Unrealistic Chase
Despite their admiration for Rogers, the reality remains that Villa value him at around £100 million and consider him untouchable. Given his age, contract length, and importance to their project, Spurs would have to present an extraordinary offer to even test the waters.
Nevertheless, Tottenham’s interest highlights their ambition and determination to find a top-level replacement for Eze. Whether they will pivot to more realistic targets or make a daring late move for Rogers remains to be seen, but with time running out, the coming days could be decisive for their transfer plans.
Would you like me to expand this even further by adding comparisons between Eze and Rogers, showing why Spurs see him as an ideal alternative, or keep it focused more on Tottenham’s late-window strategy?