Tottenham are still looking to sign an attacking midfielder after missing out on Eberechi Eze, and have identified Morgan Rogers as an alternative.
Spurs looked set to sign Eze this week, after a deal was agreed in principle with Crystal Palace on Tuesday, 19 August.
But on Wednesday, Arsenal made their move and also agreed a deal with the Eagles, with the player opting to sign for the Gunners.
Despite the blow, Thomas Frank will still be desperate to add a midfielder to his squad before the window closes, after James Maddison underwent surgery on his anterior cruciate ligament.
Step forward, Rogers.
Tottenham make contact over Morgan Rogers
Spurs are currently without a creative midfielder, with injuries to Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski leaving Frank’s midfield devoid of forward-thinking players.
MORE SPURS STORIES
Mohammed Kudus, who arrived for £55million earlier in the summer, is a candidate to play the position, but has performed excellently on the wing.
Eze would have been set to solve that problem for Frank, the midfielder having registered 25 goal contributions across all competitions for Palace last season.
The England international is the second player Spurs have missed out on in the final stages this summer, having also gone extremely close to signing Morgan Gibbs-White from Nottingham Forest before the 25-year-old signed a new contract.
Landing Rogers would perhaps be viewed as a more impressive feat than the signings of either previously linked player, however.
Miguel Delaney reported on 21 August that Spurs have contacted intermediaries about the 23-year-old, who was crowned the PFA’s Premier League Young Player of the Year on Tuesday.
Villa do not want to sell the midfielder, but there is a feeling that an actual bid could alter the stance at Villa Park, amid the constraints of the Profit and Sustainability Rules.
Daniel Levy would be required to part with significantly more than the £67.5m agreed for the signing of Eze, however.
Morgan Rogers would be a staggering signing for Spurs
Rogers is all about power. The midfielder is often known to pick up the ball and drive towards goal, muscling off his opponents with ease.
And when in sight of goal, the England international is deadly, scoring 14 goals last season across all competitions for Villa.
Rogers’ potential, and contract, which expires in 2030, would mean Spurs would likely be required to lodge a bid worth more than £80m to tempt the Villans’ hand.
But if they can pull it off, the signing would send shockwaves throughout the Premier League.