Kenan Yildiz, Enzo Maresca, Morgan Rogers (Photos: Tasos Katopodis, Alex Grimm, Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Chelsea will make the offensive midfielder next year a priority in the transfer market after missing out on Zabi Simons in the summer. Catch off side I understand.
Bruce has had a busy summer and has brought exciting talents like Jamie Gitens, Joa Pedro, Liam Delap, Jorell Hato and Alejandro Garnacho, but their recruiting team continues to be busy assessing their future targets.
Sources with a detailed understanding of Chelsea’s plans have been notified Catch off side The West London giant will focus on Aston Villa Star Morgan Rogers as one of its top targets for January or next summer.
Chelsea’s interest in signing Rogers is no secret. England International was on the radar throughout the summer, but other top clubs were also impressed by his shape in the villa.
Chelsea explores Morgan Rogers and other transfer targets
Information sources have also been notified Catch off side Juventus’ Kenan Ildis is on the radar of Chelsea along with Marick Fofana of Lyon.
Tottenham ended up winning the Zabi Simmons race, but Chelsea were really keen to bring him in to slow him down in the window.
Ultimately, only Garnacho was possible, but the CFC will secure funds for at least one top offensive midfield player in the coming months.
Rogers is preferred by Chelsea recruitment teams, but Yildiz and Fofana are two other names if the deal turns out to be too expensive or complicated.
Villa, of course, wants to hold Rogers in hand, but it could also be in a strong position to invite a bid war, as other clubs such as Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City could be involved.
Chelsea missed Zabi Simons and Ethan Nuwaneri
Chelsea also had a genuine and concrete interest in Arsenal youth Ethan Nuwaneri, especially during the summer.
Eventually, Nwaneri was to sign a new deal with Gunners, but Charles Watts has previously spoken about Bruce’s interests.
“Arsenal has always been very calm about Nuwaneri’s situation, but with the remaining year of his old deal, it was a problem that needed to be resolved,” Watts said of Chelsea’s interest in Nuwaneri.
“Chelsea was just as interested as before Nuwaneri signed his first professional contract with the club in March 2024.”
He added: “There may have been a strong interest, but Nuwaneri’s preference is always to stay at Arsenal, and the club was sure he would always stay.”