Chelsea and Tottenham's £100m target speaks out on summer transfer links

Chelsea and Spurs were credited with a strong interest in Morgan Rogers throughout the summer transfer window (Picture: Getty)

Morgan Rogers has brushed off rumours linking him with a big-money move this summer, saying it ‘means everything’ to have the ‘love’ and backing of Unai Emery at Aston Villa.

The 23-year-old attacking midfielder enjoyed the most productive season of his career last term after racking up eight goals and ten assists in the Premier League to help Villa secure a sixth-place finish.

But Rogers’ eye-catching performances – which saw him named PFA Young Player of the Year – caught the attention of Chelsea and Tottenham and there was speculation that the England international could be set for the exit door at Villa Park before the transfer deadline.

And while Rogers ultimately stayed put, with Villa reportedly demanding a fee of £100million for the forward , it’s believed the two London clubs remain admirers and could step up their interest again in the future .

For now, though, Rogers remains fully focussed on the task at hand at Villa, with the club enduring a difficult start to the campaign having picked up just one point from their three opening games.

Emery’s side will look to get back to winning ways when they return to top-flight action away to David Moyes’ Everton.

Asked about the support he has from Emery and speculation he could have left Villa this summer, Rogers told talkSPORT : ‘It means everything as a player, when you feel wanted, when you feel loved, when you feel like they want you to be there and they want you to be a key member of the squad.

Rogers is currently away on international duty with England (Picture: Getty)

Villa reportedly slapped a £100m price tag on Rogers this summer (Picture: Getty)

‘It’s alright having outside noise and fans liking you, that’s one thing, but to have the manager, he’s the one that makes the decisions, picks the teams.

‘To have that real backing and that real love behind you, that means everything to me.

‘He just allows me to play football and express myself and he knows like me, I’m not always going to get it right or be perfect, but he trusts me to this point where he knows that I’m going to give it my all.

‘If it works then great and, if it doesn’t, we move on to the next game and go again and we try even harder.

Rogers was named PFA Young Player of the Year (Picture: Getty)

‘To have that manager behind me is perfect and it’s just what I needed at this time in my career.’

Rogers will be hoping for minutes over the coming days as England continue their World Cup qualifying campaign with a double-header against Andorra and Serbia.

The Villa star has been capped six times at senior level and is desperate to put his hand up for selection ahead of next year’s tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

‘It’s a little boy’s dream of representing your country at a World Cup, in a major tournament, and it’s something I’ve thought about since I was a young kid and all the way through the age groups with England,’ Rogers said of his World Cup aspirations.

‘But I think there’s a lot in between that and I don’t want anything to get in the way of that.

‘I know what I need to focus on and that will take care of itself and if I start chasing things and thinking too far ahead, that’s when I can get in a bit of trouble and start thinking about the wrong things.

‘Of course it’s a dream and it’s in the back of my mind, but it will stay in the back of mind until the time is here.’