Premier League manager reveals Morgan Rogers transfer frustration after Aston Villa rise

Morgan Rogers made his Premier League and Champions League debut with Aston Villa this year

Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has revealed he previously tried to bring Morgan Rogers to Portman Road and has praised the forward's progression at Aston Villa.

Unai Emery targeted Rogers back in January after paying close attention to his performance against his side in the FA Cup when the former Man City man was playing for Middlesbrough under Michael Carrick. Villa signed Rogers for an initial £8m rising to £15m in add-ons.

He has made great strides under Emery over the last eight months, making 22 appearances and recording six goal contributions. Rogers has played a key role in the club's strong start to the season and Villa will go in search of their sixth consecutive victory in all competitions against Ipswich on Sunday (2pm).

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"I think Morgan Rogers was a fantastic signing [for Villa]," McKenna admitted in his press conference. "We were there or thereabouts to bringing him here a couple of times earlier in his career.

"He's a player I've known for a number of years and the signing by Villa and how they've improved him and the impact he's having at Premier League level is, apart from this weekend, great to see from a young player."

Rogers came through the ranks at West Brom before joining Man City in the summer of 2019. He never made a senior appearance under Pep Guardiola and featured for the likes of Lincoln, Bournemouth and Blackpool on loan.

He signed for Boro on a permanent basis last year, but after impressing Emery and Villa's recruitment staff, he headed to Villa just months after penning a long-term deal at the Riverside Stadium.

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