New Rogers: Aston Villa make late bid to sign "spectacular" £25m star
Aston Villa’s rise under Unai Emery has been defined by sharp recruitment, shrewd coaching, and an ability to identify players who are ready to step into the limelight away from the shadows of Europe’s biggest clubs.
In Morgan Rogers, Villa found exactly that: a player once on the books at Manchester City, who needed a platform to showcase his ability.
Just 18 months on from swapping the Etihad for Villa Park, Rogers has blossomed into one of the Premier League’s brightest attacking midfielders, demonstrating the value of spotting untapped potential.
That model has become central to Villa’s approach in a summer where financial pressures have forced them to balance ambition with pragmatism.
The club has already lost academy graduate Jacob Ramsey to Newcastle United in a bid to meet Profit and Sustainability Regulations.
Aston Villa enter the race for Barcelona talent
As long as Emery’s side seek to compete at the highest level, their transfer strategy must be both precise and opportunistic.
It is within this context that Villa are eyeing their next move.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
The profile of the target is clear: highly talented, underused at an elite club, and brimming with the potential to grow into a genuine superstar once given a consistent role.
In other words, another Rogers-style signing.
Reports via Sport Witness revealed that Aston Villa have joined Wolves and Marseille in the battle to sign Barcelona midfielder Marc Casado, a player described by “spectacular” Sergio Busquets.
The 21-year-old is valued at €30m (£25m), with Barça facing a difficult dilemma over his future, and the player has already received an offer from Villa to leave Camp Nou behind.
Casado is a La Masia graduate and a Catalonia native, factors that make the political optics of a sale complicated.
The club knows moving him on could cause friction among supporters, yet their long-standing financial problems remain unresolved.
The midfielder currently earns €10,000 a week, and Wolves are reportedly prepared to quadruple that to tempt him into a Premier League move.
Why Casado could be the next Rogers
Villa’s interest comes at a time when Emery’s squad has stumbled slightly at the start of the campaign, collecting just one point from their opening two fixtures.
With a Europa League campaign to navigate and squad depth already tested, adding quality in midfield is a priority.
Casado, who featured 23 times in La Liga last season and played ten Champions League matches, fits the bill as both a ready contributor and a long-term investment.
Wolves have been proactive in making contact, particularly as they look to rebound from a difficult start under Vítor Pereira, losing their first two league games after selling key players Matheus Cunha and Rayan Aït-Nouri.
Yet Villa possess a crucial advantage: the opportunity to offer a proven pathway of development.
Rogers’ success after leaving City is proof of what can be achieved at Villa Park.
Casado’s qualities suggest he could thrive in the same way Rogers has at Villa.
A deep-lying playmaker with the versatility to cover at right-back or centre-back, he brings both defensive solidity and creative incision.
His underlying numbers are striking.
According to FBref, he ranks in the 91st percentile compared to positionally similar players in Europe for assists per 90 (0.20), the 94th percentile for touches (86.03) and passes into the final third (7.49), while completing 90.1% of his passes – evidence of his reliability in possession.
Defensively, he averages over three tackles per game, highlighting his work rate and adaptability.
What makes Casado particularly intriguing is how his career echoes Rogers’ trajectory. Like the English midfielder at City, Casado is blocked by world-class competition at Barcelona.
Both players require a club prepared to give them consistent minutes in a competitive environment without the suffocating expectation that comes with being part of an elite, star-studded squad.
Rogers grasped that opportunity with both hands, making 54 appearances last season across competitions, scoring 12 goals and assisting 14, while playing a key role in Villa’s Champions League run.
His initial £8m transfer fee now looks like one of the bargains of the decade, and his market value has since risen to £50m.
Casado, at £25m, represents a bigger outlay, but one that could prove similarly shrewd if his development mirrors that of Rogers.
There is also the question of timing.
Casado recently left his agent and will be represented by Jorge Mendes from October, a move designed to secure his long-term future.
While he has publicly insisted it is not a step motivated by salary, Mendes’ involvement inevitably increases the likelihood of a move abroad, given his extensive Premier League connections.
For Villa, the chance to repeat the Rogers model is obvious. Casado is young, versatile, technically gifted, and already tested in both La Liga and the Champions League.
He might not yet be a guaranteed starter for Barcelona, but under Emery, he could become an essential cog in a side that thrives on midfield dynamism and tactical flexibility.
If Casado makes the move, his ceiling is immense.
Busquets’ endorsement underlines his pedigree, while his statistical profile suggests a player capable of dictating play at the highest level.
Like Rogers, the conditions are right for him to flourish away from the glare of his current surroundings.
For Aston Villa, it is about recognising that the next superstar might not be the finished article, but a rough diamond ready to shine.
He's like Duran & Benteke: Aston Villa make £65m star their top target
Aston Villa are eyeing up a new striker who is a mix of Jhon Durán and Christian Benteke.
ByWill Miller Aug 23, 2025