WHY DEAN SAUNDERS CLAIMS MANCHESTER UNITED WILL "KILL" MORGAN ROGERS’ CAREER
Morgan Rogers is being advised to stay with Unai Emery at Villa despite Man Utd’s summer interest.
Morgan Rogers has been cautioned against moving to what some now consider the “graveyard” that Manchester United has become. Alongside that, he’s also been advised to dismiss any advances from Chelsea. At just 23, the England international has caught the eye of several Premier League teams, making him one of the most talked-about young talents. Dean Saunders, a former striker for Aston Villa, feels Rogers’ growth would be better nurtured by staying put for now.
Looking at Rogers’ progression at Villa Park, it’s clear he’s on an upward trajectory, locked into a long-term contract, and even earning a spot with England. Yet this all raises some transfer-related questions that Rogers likely has on his mind. Speaking to PariuriX.com, Saunders was candid about the rumours. He described Rogers as a top-class player who, despite his size, moves fluidly with the ball, navigates tight spaces effectively, retains possession, and finds the net.
Saunders doesn’t see any benefit in Rogers leaving Aston Villa at this stage. He imagines conversations between Rogers and manager Unai Emery might revolve around the kind of support the club intends to offer in the transfer market. Rogers would be asking whether the team plans to strengthen in meaningful ways or just make modest moves. Financial constraints linked to Fair Play have limited Villa’s options, but Saunders insists that to make a real leap forward, the owners will need to back the squad with quality signings. He couldn’t help but wonder why the club missed out on talents like Julian Alvarez and questioned the logic behind not pursuing top-tier players when competing at a high level demands it.
Despite the challenges, Saunders acknowledges that Villa’s squad has performed admirably, especially considering the heavy fixture load. However, he believes there’s still room for improvement if better players are brought in.
When it comes to transfer speculation linking Rogers to Manchester United and Chelsea, Saunders is unequivocal; Aston Villa currently offers a better environment for him. He advises Rogers to steer clear of those two. Drawing from recent patterns at United, Saunders describes it as a kind of “graveyard” for young talents, citing the numerous struggles that come with joining a club embroiled in transition and instability. While United may be attempting to clean house and reset its culture, it took them hitting rock bottom to get there. Now they can attract players willing to fight in less-than-ideal conditions, but it’s hardly the ideal place for Rogers to develop.
On the flip side, United face their own shake-ups. Casemiro’s exit as a free agent this summer leaves a gap, and with Bruno Fernandes potentially eyeing a move to the Saudi Pro League amid lucrative offers, United might find themselves in the market for creative players like Rogers. If Fernandes departs, Rogers would likely be high on their wishlist. United reportedly have funds to spend this summer, but convincing Villa to part with their standout playmaker won’t be straightforward. Especially if Villa secures Champions League qualification through their league finish or by winning the Europa League, their incentive to sell diminishes significantly.
All things considered, for Rogers, the decision isn’t just about flashy moves or joining historic clubs. It’s about where he can realistically take the next step without sidetracking the promising trajectory he’s currently on. Staying at Villa, at least for now, seems to offer that stability and opportunity.
INSIDE SENNE LAMMENS’ BLUEPRINT FOR MAN UNITED’S MASSIVE 2026 SUMMER TRANSFER OVERHAUL
"We want to be stronger." Read Senne Lammens' honest assessment of Manchester United’s squad needs after the Sunderland draw.
Senne Lammens isn’t hiding from the truth; he knows Manchester United have to beef up their squad this summer if they want to handle both the Premier League and Champions League next season.
Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Sunderland showed just how thin United are right now. Casemiro, Benjamin Sesko, and Manuel Ugarte all sat out with injuries, and you could feel their absence on the pitch.
It’s been a weird season for United. They played just 40 games, the fewest in over a century, because they were eliminated from Europe and both domestic cups so early. But now they’re back in the Champions League, and Lammens realises the team has to get deeper if they want to compete seriously.
“Yeah, definitely. This league’s tough, and next year’s schedule is going to be insane,” the goalkeeper said. “You want to have enough reliable players, people who can step up whenever they’re needed.”
Lammens made it clear that United must invest in new signings during the summer window. He’s not saying the squad lacks quality now, but he knows things will get tougher. “Honestly, I think we’ve got a lot of talent this year,” he said. “But next season’s going to ask a lot more from us, and you need to be ready for injuries and everything that can come with a busy year like today, when we missed a few regular starters. Being able to call on others to jump in really matters.”
He wants a strong, well-rounded group ready for the challenges ahead. “We’re already building towards that, but we want to be even stronger for next season.”
Some people wondered if United relaxed after they clinched their Champions League spot by beating Liverpool last weekend. Lammens brushed that idea off. He said head coach Michael Carrick was all over them, reminding everyone to finish the season on a high.
“I don’t think so, not for me at least,” Lammens said. “The manager made it clear that these last games are important. We want as many points as we can get and to finish as high as possible. How you end the season carries over. It’s your launchpad for next year. We want to keep the momentum going.”
He didn’t want to hear any excuses. “Honestly, if we’d played at Sunderland a few weeks ago before securing the Champions League, it still would’ve been tough. That wasn’t in our minds.”
Carrick echoed those thoughts after the match. He sounded almost annoyed when asked if the players were mentally on holiday already.
“I get almost offended by that,” he said. “The way the players prepared and battled out there, it’s clear they’re still focused. If we’d been off it, we’d have lost. Sunderland pushed us hard at times.”
He thinks the pride and responsibility of playing for Manchester United is all the motivation the team needs. “That’s what keeps us sharp, knowing we represent something big. That doesn’t guarantee we’ll always play brilliantly, but it’s enough to fight through tough days.”
MANCHESTER UNITED HOLD ADVANCED NEGOTIATIONS FOR RECORD-BREAKING £18M BETWAY SPONSORSHIP
Despite the upcoming front-of-shirt gambling ban, explore how Man United’s Betway deal targets training apparel at Carrington.
Manchester United are currently discussing a potential sponsorship deal with Betway, reportedly worth up to £18 million. This comes despite the Premier League having banned betting companies from featuring as main shirt sponsors starting from the 2026-27 season.
Back in 2023, Premier League clubs collectively agreed to remove gambling logos from the front of their shirts. From that point, no top-flight team will carry betting advertisements on their kits during matches. But this new deal would see Betway appear on United’s training gear, not their matchday shirts.
According to reports from the MEN, talks have progressed significantly. If an agreement were reached, the Betway logo would be quite visible on the training apparel worn by players at Carrington, United’s training ground. That means fans would regularly see the branding in video footage and photos taken during training sessions.
Previously, United’s training kits featured Tezos, a blockchain company, until that partnership ended in June 2025. Betway has its own history with English football; they’ve been shirt sponsors for West Ham United and maintain global gambling partnerships with several Premier League clubs, including Manchester City, Arsenal, and Brighton & Hove Albion.
The financial terms on the table for this Betway deal would be substantially close to £18 million, putting it on a similar scale to Bayern Munich’s partnership with Allianz, which includes stadium naming rights. This is quite a significant figure for a single training kit sponsor.
This season, United have gone without a sponsor on their training gear. After the Tezos contract expired, the club chose not to rush into a new agreement. They wanted to carefully evaluate potential partners, both from a financial standpoint and in terms of brand alignment.
There were even conversations with the African division of the Six Rivers Foundation, a conservation project in which United minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe has invested. However, those discussions didn’t lead to a deal.
When majority owners Joel and Avram Glazer visited Carrington earlier this year, commercial revenue and sponsorship opportunities were among the key topics addressed. The club has also brought in marketing agency Two Circles, where ex-United sales manager Leo Thompson works, to help find a new sleeve sponsor, given that the current contract with DXC ends this summer.
Securing Champions League qualification for next season under Michael Carrick’s leadership has somewhat eased the process. United guaranteed their place in Europe’s top competition after a 3-2 victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford, which should make the club more attractive to potential commercial partners.
