Worth more than Isak: Aston Villa have hit the jackpot on “unstoppable” gem

Worth more than Isak: Aston Villa have hit the jackpot on “unstoppable” gem

With just one point from their first three Premier League games, Aston Villa has not had the finest start to the 2025–

26 season and has yet to make an impression.

A late burst of activity, however, suggests advancement and potential. Victor Lindelof joined on a free transfer after

his contract with Manchester United expired, and Jadon Sancho and Harvey Elliot completed deadline-day loan

deals.

The late moves salvaged Villa’s frustrating summer, especially since Monchi and Damian Vidagany have retained the

services of the most talented first-teamers.

Aston Villa have kept their best players

In August, Aston Villa sold Jacob Ramsey to Premier League rivals Newcastle United for a £43m fee. A poignant one,

for sure. However, the sale of the homegrown talent has turned pure profit for the club, and perhaps played a role in

securing a series of late-window additions.

Axel Disasi, Marco Asensio, and Marcus Rashford all saw loan deals come and go, yet players like John McGinn and

Ollie Watkins are still at Villa Park because divisional rivals’ offers were turned down.

While McGinn’s leadership, enthusiasm, and presence in the dressing room are qualities that are difficult to replace,

Watkins may not be coming off of his finest season, but he still recorded 17 goals and 14 assists across all

competitions.

Even though the first few weeks of the season have felt a little boring, the combination of new talent and enduring

experience highlights the team’s ability to contend in the Europa League and aim for a strong Premier League finish.

These players will play important roles this season, but none more so than Morgan Rogers, who was exceptional last

season and might be viewed as the talisman of Emery’s project.

How Morgan Rogers’ market value compares

Last month, Rogers was named the PFA Young Player of the Year for the 2024/25 Premier League season. The

honour bears testament to his extraordinary strides in such a short time, only joining Villa from Middlesbrough in

the Championship in January 2024.

Despite earning opportunities throughout the second half of the 2023–24 Premier League season, the 23-year-old

really came into his own last season, contributing 19 goals in the league alone and scoring 14 goals and dishing out 16

assists in all competitions.

When he scored a hat-trick against Celtic in the Champions League and a consolation goal as Villa fell to eventual

winners Paris Saint-Germain, pundit Jamie Carragher hailed him as a “unstoppable” force.

Despite the Lions’ lacklustre start to the season, you can bet your bottom dollar that Rogers will be one of the main

motivators when Emery does come up with a winning recipe for the upcoming months.

Regardless of the tactical role assigned to him, Rogers is athletic and enterprising. He usually plays out on the left

side or in a forward-thrust centre midfield spot, where his strength and speed enable him to split lines and take on

defenders.

Despite his youth, Rogers has already had a remarkable career, honing his skills in the EFL after first trying to find

success in Manchester City’s crowded development academy.

The wonderful thing is that the England international still has a lot to offer and a lot of unrealised potential.

According to Villa’s senior management, Rogers has the potential to be among the best in the Premier League,

defining Emery’s team’s future and possibly bringing in a transfer fee comparable to that of Alexander Isak of

Liverpool, who joined the winners from Newcastle United for a British record £125 million on deadline day.

Isak, who is regarded as one of the world’s most dangerous strikers, has gradually improved during his three stints

on Tyneside and has become a household name in English football. Rogers has also begun to show indications of

improvement, and with another stellar season under Emery’s tutelage, he may be able to reach even higher levels of

discussion.

In fact, according to CIES Football Observatory, Isak is valued at £89 million, whereas Rogers is valued at £99

million.

Naturally, this isn’t a true picture in reality, as Isak recently relocated to Merseyside at a record-breaking cost.

However, after making such remarkable strides in just one season in the top division, it highlights the Three Lions

star’s potential to become a great of comparable calibre.

Isak, 25, wasn’t a sophisticated player when he moved to St. James’ Park from Real Sociedad in 2022, but he has

become a superstar thanks to Eddie Howe’s guidance. Therefore, Rogers at Aston Villa is comparable.

It remains to be seen if Aston Villa can develop Rogers into a world-class player, but there is no doubt that he

possesses the abilities and drive to do so.

Rogers is the biggest star in the Midlands team, and many believe the best is yet to come. He is already regarded by

top data and analysis site CIES Football Observatory as having a projected value higher than Liverpool’s new striker

(though take that with a grain of salt, considering Isak’s actual price).

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