Chelsea considered Morgan Rogers deal unlikely before Arsenal talks slowed – Steinberg

Chelsea initially doubted they would be able to sign Morgan Rogers during the summer transfer window, according to The Guardian journalist Jacob Steinberg.

The London club believed at the start of the window that the 24-year-old midfielder was likely to join Arsenal. Chelsea’s assessment was influenced by their disappointing previous season, which ended without qualification for European competition.

However, the situation changed as the end of the World Cup approached. Chelsea learned that Arsenal were making slow progress in their negotiations for Rogers, creating an opportunity for the Blues to intervene.

The club took advantage of that opening and moved to secure the midfielder, despite having previously questioned whether a deal would be possible.

Steinberg’s account suggests Chelsea’s pursuit of Rogers developed in response to the lack of progress in Arsenal’s discussions. Rather than expecting to complete the transfer from the outset, Chelsea became increasingly confident that they could take advantage of the delay.

At the beginning of the summer window, Arsenal were regarded within Chelsea as the more likely destination for Rogers. The Blues’ lack of European football after their poor previous campaign had also contributed to the belief that the midfielder would choose the Gunners instead.

That expectation changed once Chelsea became aware that Arsenal’s negotiations were advancing slowly. The London club then acted on the possibility of bringing the player to Stamford Bridge.

Rogers has already made three appearances for Chelsea. He has scored one goal and provided one assist in those matches.

The midfielder’s early contribution has come after a transfer which, according to Steinberg, Chelsea had not been confident of completing when the window opened. Their eventual move followed a change in the balance of the negotiations, with Arsenal’s delay giving Chelsea the chance to secure the player.

Chelsea’s initial doubts were therefore replaced by a successful attempt to complete the deal. The club’s decision to intervene near the end of the World Cup ultimately resulted in Rogers joining the Blues, after Arsenal had appeared to be in the stronger position earlier in the transfer window.