Unai Emery has five options to repeat Morgan Rogers transfer and save Aston Villa millions
Unai Emery completed a masterstroke signing in the 2024 January transfer window when he plucked Morgan Rogers from the Championship.
Rogers had only scored twice in 26 Championship outings for Middlesbrough and wasn't always a starter under Michael Carrick, but Emery saw something in him and asked Monchi to sign him. Rogers, 22, made an impact with three goals and an assist in 11 Premier League outings for Aston Villa last term to help the team secure Champions League qualification and he has become a mainstay in the side this term.
The England international has six goals and three assists in the first half of the Premier League season and Villa fans will be wondering whether Emery has any more transfer tricks up his sleeve. Given Villa's need to be creative to compete and comply with Profit and Sustainability Regulations, more signings like Rogers, whose transfer value has already rocketed from the reported £15million Villa paid for him, wouldn't go amiss.
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Here are some options for Villa to look at in the Championship...
Ben Doak – Winger
Ben Doak has been a shining light on loan at Middlesbrough with eight goal contributions so far this season. The Middlesbrough flier is one of the best ball carriers in the second tier and only two players have registered more assists than Doak's six. Scotland international Doak could be the antidote to Villa's lack of pace on the right flank following the summer sale of Moussa Diaby to Al-Ittihad.
Chris Rigg – Midfielder
The 17-year-old is a highly rated midfielder for Sunderland and has been touted to be a rising star in English football. After breaking through the ranks of his boyhood club last season at the age of 16, he is one of the youngest to do so. If you fast-forward 18 months, Rigg has performed extremely well to reach five goal contributions. The only problem for Rigg would be the competition in the midfield, which is a position of strength for Villa manager Emery.
Callum Doyle – Centre-back
Despite being a defender by trade, Manchester City's Doyle has enjoyed success at the other end of the field for loan club Norwich City with a goal and five assists in the Championship. He is a very versatile player who has spread his 28 games across the centre-back and left-back positions. Villa have depth in the defensive positions, but they are aging with the likes of Tyrone Mings and Diego Carlos not getting any younger.
Illan Meslier - Goalkeeper
Illan Meslier has spent the last three and a half years at Leeds United under numerous managers and the French goalkeeper has always been considered a top talent for the Yorkshire club. However, Meslier has been making a few mistakes of late, leaving Leeds United fans questioning his position in Daniel Farke's line-up.
With question marks around Robin Olsen's future, Meslier might not be a bad back-up option for Villa. Considering all the mistakes this season, Villa could possibly get Meslier on a cut-price deal if Leeds want to cash in.
Alfie Doughty – Left-back
Alfie Doughty has been in fine form for a couple of years now at Luton Town. The 25-year-old left-back is one of their most impressive players, with most of their best attacking play coming down the left side. Doughty could be a replacement for Ian Maatsen if the Dutchman is included in any deal for Borussia Dortmund ace Donyell Malen.
