Arsenal are watching Michael Olise light up the World Cup this summer with a mixture of admiration and regret, given his brief stay in their academy years ago.
The French winger left the Gunners’ youth setup as a youngster, and nobody could have foreseen the heights he would eventually reach in the game.
Much like current Arsenal player Eberechi Eze, Olise needed time developing in the EFL before earning his Premier League opportunity with Crystal Palace.
Now he is a genuine Ballon d’Or contender following a stunning season with Bayern Munich, and no player has recorded more assists than his five at the current World Cup tournament.
Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta believe they have identified a player capable of making a similar impact in north London this summer.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Berta has made strong progress on a deal for Aston Villa midfielder Morgan Rogers, with Villa demanding a fee in the region of £130m.
Romano stated on YouTube: “The number one option for Arsenal remains Morgan Rogers. Aston Villa want to put a price around £130m to let him leave this summer.”
Romano also confirmed that other clubs are circling the 23-year-old, adding: “Villa are aware of Arsenal interest and aware of interest from other clubs including Chelsea. However, Arsenal have made very good progress on the player side for quite some time. So, Arsenal keep pushing for Rogers.”
Bradley Barcola of PSG is another name on Arsenal’s shortlist, with the French club reportedly valuing him between £103m and £116m this summer.
PSG’s potential signing of Yan Diomande from RB Leipzig could open the door for Barcola to leave, though Arsenal’s primary focus appears firmly fixed on Rogers.
The comparisons between Rogers and Olise are grounded in genuine statistical evidence from the 2025/26 season, making the pursuit feel particularly compelling for Arsenal’s coaching staff.
Harry Kane, who has played alongside Olise at Bayern Munich, described the winger as “the best winger in the world,” a remarkable endorsement that underlines just how far the former Palace man has come.
Olise finished the 2025/26 campaign with a staggering 22 goals and 31 assists, ranking in the top 1% of positionally similar players in Europe’s top five leagues for progressive actions, forward passes expected threat and open play expected goals.
Rogers, meanwhile, has posted back-to-back impressive campaigns at Villa, recording 14 goals and 16 assists in 2024/25 before following that up with 14 goals and 12 assists the following season.
Like Olise, who honed his craft in England’s lower leagues before Crystal Palace gave him his big break, Rogers developed his game with Lincoln City and Middlesbrough before catching Villa’s attention.
Rogers ranked among the top 14% of attacking midfielders in Europe for progressive passes last term, and in the top 16% for expected threat, highlighting his relentless forward-thinking approach.
Both players share a crucial trait in their style, as they are powerful carriers of the ball who are virtually impossible to stop when running at defenders at full pace in tight spaces.
While Olise has operated brilliantly on the right flank for Bayern, it is in the number ten role for France at the World Cup where he has been his most devastating and creative version.
Arsenal’s recruitment team believes that placing Rogers in a stronger squad environment could trigger a similar leap in performance to the one Olise experienced at Bayern Munich last season.