Aston Villa are set to sign the £30m midfielder

Aston Villa are riding a wave under Unai Emery's wing, but the Midlands side know their excitement following the success of the 2025/2026 campaign could be tempered by the saga of the emerging Morgan Rogers.

Nothing is certain in football, but it seems the England international wants to complete a big-money move away from Villa Park this summer, with Fabrizio Romano confirming Arsenal are interested and progressing in early talks with representatives.

If the striker leaves, he will leave a pretty penny, having played a major role in securing a lot of Champions League football in recent years, and took the lead when Aston Villa won the Europa League last month, beating Freiburg in the final.

Emery and the NSWE powerhouse will need to find a quality number ten to step into Rogers' boots, but they also plan for the future, strengthening other midfield positions.

Aston Villa join the race for the required prospects

Rogers has been great for Aston Villa and Emery over the last few years, but his success has been built on a solid and secure platform that a manager has to cement for many years.

Youri Tielemans, for example, has become a central figure in the Midlands side, but at 29 and only two years left on his current deal, the Villans need to start planning ahead.

It may seem that Aston Villa have time on their hands, but they must be smart if they wish to stay among England's stars. The likes of Leicester City and Newcastle United tasted the top spot but failed to end the big-six hegemony.

Perhaps that's why NSWE entered the hotly contested race for Belgian midfielder Nathan De Cat, according to TEAMtalk, with the youngster making a name for himself at Anderlecht last year.

The 17-year-old may not be ready to take up a central role in the heart of Emery's Villa midfield, but he is undoubtedly a potential star, with his Belgian employers demanding at least £30m for his signing this summer.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are currently leading the race, both of these outfits have opened discussions with the player's team. A number of other European sides are also interested.

Why De Cat could be the heir to Aston Villa's Tielemans

De Cat may be young, but he has established himself in his homeland, featuring heavily in the Pro League throughout the 2025/26 season after making four appearances last campaign.

Jacek Kulig, a talent scout, said: “The Belgian midfielder plays with the maturity and composure of someone beyond his years. He has all the tools to become a leader at the top club one day.” Another compliment came from European football expert Bence Bocsak, who called him “one of the best midfielders in Europe.”

There's no doubt that De Cat is talented, and as he's doing at an impressive level, he could emulate Tielemans by stepping in big time ahead of schedule.

Tielemans was also regarded as something of a joke when he cut his teeth at Anderlecht, playing the entire senior season after leaving school. He moved to Monaco before finding a home with Leicester in the Premier League, eventually reaching his career apotheosis with Emery at Villa Park.

Now, Villa are hoping to bypass De Cat's middle age by bringing him in now and developing him himself, paving the way to stardom with one of the strongest and most secure outfits in Europe, let alone England.

Aston Villa have enjoyed title success in the past few weeks, but Emery now needs to do something much more difficult – to maintain this level at the top of the English game, while strengthening themselves in the Champions League.

It will require a Herculean effort, and in the long run, a talent like De Cat can make a big difference, especially if the Tielemans bow out.