Ollie Watkins sends transfer message to £85 million Arsenal target

Morgan Rogers has been heavily linked with a move to Arsenal this summer (Picture: Getty)

Ollie Watkins believes Morgan Rogers is destined to ‘reach the very, very top’ amid speculation his Aston Villa teammate is set to join Arsenal in the summer transfer window.

The Premier League champions are hoping to reshape their forward line in a bid to equip Mikel Arteta with a squad capable of winning back-to-back titles.

Rogers has thrived under the management of Unai Emery at Villa Park and starred in his side’s run to Europa League glory last season.

The 23-year-old is reportedly open to a move to the Emirates Stadium but it would take a sizeable offer to convince Villa to sell .

Rogers joined the Midlands club from Middlesbrough two-and-a-half years ago in a deal that initially cost just £8million and it would take almost 10 times that amount for Arsenal to land one of their primary targets.

Regardless of whether he does make the move to north London, Watkins, who himself came close to joining Arsenal last year, believes his club and international teammate is an elite talent.

He said: ‘Morgan can go to the very top. You’ve seen what he can do in a short space of time in 18 months, how he’s developed and started to perform at the top, top level which has got him all the recognition he deserves.

Morgan Rogers and Ollie Watkins starred for Aston Villa last season (Picture: Getty)

‘I think he’s got his head on his shoulders at the end of the day, he’s an intelligent guy who is hardworking and confidence in his own ability and I think he can go to the very top. He speaks for himself.’

Watkins, meanwhile, knows his World Cup moment could be just around the corner.

Watkins wrote himself into English football folklore two years ago when he came off the bench to score a last-minute winner against the Netherlands and send his country through to the Euro 2024 final.

He is back in familiar territory in North America – on the bench behind Harry Kane in a designated ‘finisher’ role.

Morgan Rogers is preparing for England’s second World Cup game against Ghana (Reuters)

The 30-year-old did not make it on to the pitch in Wednesday’s Group L opener against Croatia but knows his time will come.

‘I feel like I understand the competition now, I understand that everyone has their moment, everyone has a part to play and, when I see other players having their moment, I’m really happy for them,’ he said.

‘I experienced mine at a great time, obviously in the semi-final, but leading up to that point, before everyone had a part to play in certain moments and I know that’s the same for this tournament as well.

England reached the Euro 2024 final thanks to a last-gasp winner from Ollie Watkins (Picture: Getty)

‘I feel like there’s no pressure on me to come on at the end of the day. I think the expectation for me is people don’t see me playing, obviously they see Harry playing, but I know what I can bring to the table.

‘I watch the game when I’m on the bench, I can see the game opens up. It’s a completely different game when you start a game of football than when you finish it. I’ve experienced that as a substitute, there are so many more opportunities when you come on.