“I can tell you” – Fabrizio Romano says Tottenham made calls to sign £100m star last night after Eze hijack
Tottenham Hotspur find themselves back in the market as the transfer window edges towards its close, and attention has now turned toward Aston Villa’s rising star Morgan Rogers.
The move comes after Spurs saw their pursuit of Eberechi Eze collapse, with Arsenal stepping in late to secure the Crystal Palace playmaker in a deal worth a reported £68 million.
The North London club, who had been in advanced talks for over a week, were left frustrated when their city rivals hijacked the deal and convinced the England international to join Mikel Arteta’s squad instead.
With Eze no longer an option, Tottenham are quickly reassessing their strategy, searching for quality in attacking areas before the deadline passes.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the club has already begun making enquiries about Rogers, though any hope of landing the 23-year-old will be extremely difficult. Aston Villa, who value the midfielder at close to £100 million, are not looking to sell, particularly with just days left in the transfer window.
Romano suggested that insiders in the game view the deal as “almost impossible,” yet Spurs continue to monitor the situation as they look to identify the right fit for their squad.
Rogers has emerged as one of the most exciting young attacking midfielders in Europe following a breakout 2024/25 campaign. Under Unai Emery’s guidance at Villa Park, he contributed 19 goals and assists in 37 Premier League matches, performances that not only lifted his club but also earned him the PFA Young Player of the Year award.
His creativity, vision, and ability to score important goals have transformed him into one of the league’s brightest talents, and Villa rewarded his progress by handing him a long-term contract last season that ties him to the club until 2030.
Tottenham’s interest in Rogers reflects the urgent need to bolster their attacking options after suffering two major setbacks. The departure of former captain Son Heung-min to Los Angeles FC earlier in the summer created a significant void in both leadership and goal threat.
To make matters worse, James Maddison suffered an ACL injury in a pre-season friendly earlier this month, an injury that is expected to rule him out for the entire 2025/26 campaign.
Losing Maddison’s creativity and influence has forced Spurs to accelerate their transfer plans, leaving them little choice but to explore high-level alternatives even if the timing makes negotiations far more complicated.
From Tottenham’s perspective, Rogers would be a perfect candidate. Young, dynamic, and already proven in the Premier League, he possesses the kind of qualities Ange Postecoglou wants in his side.
His ability to play across attacking midfield roles gives Spurs much-needed flexibility, while his work rate and flair would instantly raise the team’s threat in the final third. However, prising him away from Villa will be a near-impossible task.
The Birmingham club are not under financial pressure, they see Rogers as a cornerstone of their project, and with Champions League football secured under Emery, Villa are unlikely to entertain any serious bids, especially so close to the deadline.
Despite this, Tottenham’s determination cannot be overlooked. The failure to land Eze was a bitter blow, and Daniel Levy knows that pressure is growing from supporters to strengthen the squad after another mixed campaign last season.
The focus will now be on whether Spurs can find a realistic alternative to Rogers if Villa stand firm. Names may yet emerge in the final days of the window, but the club’s late scramble reflects just how fragile the market can be, with rivals ready to pounce at any moment.
For now, Spurs remain active, exploring every possible avenue. Their interest in Rogers may be described as a dream target rather than a realistic one, but it underlines the kind of ambition Tottenham need to show if they want to return to the top end of the Premier League.
The coming days will be crucial, and while it seems unlikely that Villa will part ways with one of their prized assets, Spurs must act decisively if they are to avoid being left short in the season ahead.