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Manchester City are reportedly exploring the possibility of activating an unexpected buy-back clause for Morgan Rogers, a move that could stop their Premier League rivals from signing the talented winger this summer.

Rogers joined Manchester City’s youth academy from West Bromwich Albion in 2019. During his time with the club, he was loaned out to Lincoln City, Bournemouth, and Blackpool to gain experience before completing a permanent transfer to Middlesbrough in 2023 for a fee of around £1 million.

Following an impressive spell in the Championship with Middlesbrough, Aston Villa secured his signature for £8 million. Since then, Rogers has emerged as one of the most promising young players in the Premier League. His performances have been instrumental in Villa’s qualification for the UEFA Champions League and their Europa League triumph this season. The 23-year-old’s rise has also earned him a place in Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the upcoming World Cup.

Rogers has been directly involved in 36 Premier League goals over the past two seasons, attracting interest from several top-flight clubs. Transfer expert Ben Jacobs provided an update at the end of last month, naming Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea, and Paris Saint-Germain among the clubs monitoring the player.

Jacobs wrote that Arsenal are a serious contender for Rogers’ signature, while Manchester United, Chelsea, and PSG also remain interested. He added that Aston Villa value Rogers at over £80 million and are open to selling him this summer if the right offer arrives. However, the player himself is said to be relaxed about his future and content to wait until after the World Cup if necessary. Villa, however, are believed to be willing to finalise a deal before the tournament should an acceptable bid be made.

Earlier this week, Jacobs appeared on The United Stand, where he confirmed that Manchester United have identified Rogers as one of their potential targets for the left-wing position. “United are looking for a left winger, and Morgan Rogers is one of the names on their shortlist. Michael Carrick briefly managed him at Middlesbrough, and Jason Wilcox played a key role in his development during his time at Manchester City,” Jacobs explained.

In a surprising twist, Jacobs also revealed that Manchester City still hold a buy-back clause for Rogers, despite not selling him directly to Aston Villa. “Manchester City have a buy-back clause in place. They’ve held discussions about possibly triggering it, but so far, there’s been no significant progress,” he said.

Typically, buy-back clauses are included in direct transfers, such as Rogers’ move from City to Middlesbrough. However, City could have negotiated for the clause to remain valid through future transfers if all involved clubs agreed. This means City might have retained a long-term repurchase right when selling him to Middlesbrough, which Aston Villa would have been obliged to honour upon acquiring him. Although such arrangements are uncommon, they are legally possible.

Discussing the wider interest in the player, Jacobs added: “Arsenal are definitely one to watch, as they could directly compete with Manchester United for Rogers. Chelsea and PSG are also in the mix. Despite Villa suggesting they may hold firm and keep him, my understanding is that Rogers is still likely to leave. At the right valuation, Villa are comfortable with that outcome, even as they prepare for Champions League football.”