Aston Villa are ready to pay a huge fee to sign their new signing Morgan Rogers

Aston Villa are still celebrating their remarkable return to the title, having dispatched Freiburg 3-0 to lift the Europa League trophy last month.

This is the peak – so far. It would be up to Unai Emery to get Villa back on track and push for the top flight after the summer break. They will then return to the Champions League.

Aston Villa are now in a position where the biggest talents in Europe will flock to Villa Park. This is one of the most exciting and successful projects in the world, but nevertheless, Morgan Rogers has thrown a spanner in the works by taking steps to sell in the summer.

How Aston Villa plan to replace Morgan Rogers

Rogers has been a star player for Aston Villa this season. Ollie Watkins came into his own in the closing stages, but Rogers was at the heart of Emery’s charge from the start.

Arsenal have confirmed interest in bringing Rogers to the Emirates this summer, but NSWE won’t let him go for anything south of £80m. This gives the Midlands side a lot to play for, especially if they think the spirit of winning the Europa League will arrive.

If Villa do sell him, however, they cannot afford to stumble having reached this enviable position. In other words, Rogers’ successor needs to provide Emery with his money.

According to Sports Boom, Emery is ready to make a ‘massive’ offer in a bid to complete a move for Ander Barrenetxea from Real Sociedad this summer.

The 24-year-old has €75 million (£66m) left in his contract, and his employers want it paid in full. When you think about it, Barrenetxea would only arrive at Villa Park for more than the £50m Everton paid for Amadou Onana in 2024, Aston Villa’s transfer record.

Why Barrenetxea could replace Rogers at Aston Villa

Barnetxea scored the winning goal in this season’s Copa del Rey final, saving Real Sociedad at the expense of Atletico Madrid.

The Spaniard isn’t quite the attacking force that Rogers is at the moment, but that doesn’t mean he won’t make a few changes – especially when he considers the benefits that can be found within Emery’s strategy.

Rogers scored ten goals and provided six assists in the Premier League; Barnetxea managed a piece of that in Spain, three goals and five assists in La Liga. However, that is not the be-all and end-all.

The underlying metrics speak well of Barrentxea, with a notable matchup against Rogers’ style of play. Both are combative and creative players by nature, strong dribblers and quick on the ball.

The Spaniard may not be as accomplished, nor as powerful, as Rogers, but he has the potential to be a star at Aston Villa, dove into Emery’s world and join many others in moving forward.

He is fast, strong and powerful. Usually coming from the left wing, he can switch if necessary. All this means that Barrenetxea has the potential to be a star, and he should be paid.

Rogers has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s standout midfielders over the last few years, but his head has been turned by some of Europe’s elite, and given a staggering sum NSWE could bank on, it may, sadly, be the case this summer.

It will be a sad day for Villan, but if they sign someone as talented as Barrenetxea, things will be fine.