Rogers Should Spurn United's Graveyard, Saunders Insists as Villa Star Eyes Summer Move

Morgan Rogers finds himself at a crossroads this summer, with the Aston Villa attacking midfielder primed for a substantial move after establishing himself as one of Europe's finest in his position.

The 23-year-old has impressed at Villa this season, chipping in with eight goals and five assists across 31 Premier League outings. His form has naturally attracted attention from the continent's elite, with the England international also in contention for World Cup honours. Villa's valuation sits around the £100m mark—a figure that reflects both his talent and the financial pressures facing the Birmingham club should they fail to secure Champions League football.

Yet Dean Saunders, the former Liverpool and Villa stalwart, reckons Rogers would be making a grave error by trading Villa Park for Old Trafford or Stamford Bridge.

"Morgan Rogers is class," Saunders told PariuriX.com. "For a big man, he really travels well with the ball and he is good in tight areas. He always keeps the ball and gets out of difficult situations and he can score goals as well."

The former defender believes Rogers' future conversations with Unai Emery will prove pivotal. "I don't think Rogers should go anywhere," Saunders continued, "but I can imagine the conversations when Emery calls him in. Rogers will be asking who Villa are planning to sign. If you want me to stay, are we shopping in Lidl or an expensive store?"

Saunders points to Villa's recruitment challenges, noting their hands have been tied by Financial Fair Play regulations. He questions why they haven't pursued top-tier targets like Julian Alvarez, particularly given they're competing across three competitions weekly.

The real sting comes when Saunders addresses Rogers' potential suitors directly. "Man United and Chelsea are being mentioned with Rogers, but Aston Villa are better than both of them," he declared. "I wouldn't recommend him joining them. We have seen what is happening when you are moving to Man United. It is like a graveyard."

Whilst acknowledging United's recent efforts to clear out problematic characters and shift direction, Saunders suggests they've only just hit rock bottom and are now in position to attract players willing to perform in testing conditions.

Chelsea fares even worse in his assessment. "Chelsea's plan is not working," Saunders said. "They have spent so much money, but they only have one world-class player – Cole Palmer."

He defines world-class as the ability to command a starting berth at any elite institution globally. Palmer, he argues, remains Chelsea's sole representative at that level. Enzo Fernández receives particular criticism—deemed decent rather than exceptional—whilst the club's youth-heavy approach threatens to cost them points.

"I expect Chelsea to win nothing in the near future," Saunders concluded. "They have the money to become good, but they are nowhere near."

His parting message to Rogers is straightforward: remain at Villa, but demand clarity from the ownership regarding their genuine ambitions for the club's future.