Manchester City can help former academy star Morgan Rogers secure his dream Chelsea shirt number by signing Malo Gusto, who currently wears the No. 27 jersey. Rogers, 23, is set to join Chelsea from Aston Villa in a deal worth £117 million, and he has long favoured the No. 27 shirt, having worn it during loan spells at Lincoln and Bournemouth, as well as during his time at Villa Park.
Rogers' Return to Chelsea
Rogers previously worked under Enzo Maresca at Chelsea before the Italian's sacking. The attacking midfielder spent four years in Manchester City's academy after joining from West Brom, wearing shirt numbers 7, 9, 11, and 72 during his time there. His preference for No. 27 stems from his loan periods and his stint at Aston Villa, where he wore the number for two and a half years.
Manchester City benefited from a sell-on clause when Rogers moved from Middlesbrough to Aston Villa, but they will not receive any further windfall from this latest transfer. However, they could indirectly help Rogers by pursuing a deal for Chelsea right-back Malo Gusto, who is open to a summer move but has a £75 million asking price.
City's Transfer Plans
Manchester City have already set the British transfer record for Elliot Anderson, but strengthening in midfield remains a priority after letting Bernardo Silva leave on a free transfer. Lille midfielder Ayyoub Bouaddi is their latest target, with Lille demanding €100 million (£85 million) and preferring to keep him on loan for another season.
Full-back could become a focus later in the window. Before Pep Guardiola's exit, City had attempted to bolster their options, with Matheus Nunes switching from midfield to right-back. Tino Livramento of Newcastle and Andrea Cambiaso of Juventus were heavily linked before interest turned to Gusto. Marco Palestra was also on their radar but has since joined Chelsea.
Season Opener Concerns
Manchester City kick off their season in less than one month against Premier League champions Arsenal in the Community Shield. However, they may be without several key players due to World Cup involvement, with players requiring a minimum four-week break. This is likely to impact Rodri, Rayan Cherki, Nico O'Reilly, Marc Guehi, Anderson, and James Trafford. Erling Haaland can feature, but if following the recommended rest period, he will have only been training for a few days before the showpiece in Cardiff.
