Arsenal legend Paul Merson has expressed doubts over Chelsea's decision to sign Morgan Rogers, arguing that the Premier League giants are spending a record fee on a player who occupies the same role as Cole Palmer.

Chelsea have reportedly agreed a £117 million deal with Aston Villa for the England international, a transfer that will make Rogers the most expensive British footballer in history if completed.

The 23-year-old is expected to undergo a medical before signing a six-year contract, with the option of an additional year, as Chelsea continue their aggressive recruitment ahead of the new season.

Reacting to the transfer, Merson questioned both the fee and the club's priorities, insisting that Chelsea should have strengthened other areas of the squad instead of adding another attacking midfielder.

Writing in his column for Sky Sports, the former Arsenal winger said:

"It's a lot of money. Crazy money. Bringing Morgan Rogers in for £117 million isn't what Chelsea needed."

He also pointed to the presence of Cole Palmer, whom he believes naturally operates in the same position as Rogers.

"They have got Cole Palmer! They play in the same position! Rogers went to the World Cup instead of Palmer because they play in the same position."

Chelsea have been among the busiest clubs in the transfer market in recent seasons, investing heavily in young talent as they seek to build a squad capable of challenging for major honours both domestically and in Europe.

Whether Rogers can justify his record-breaking price tag will now become one of the biggest talking points of the upcoming campaign.

Opinion

Paul Merson raises a valid concern about squad balance rather than the quality of Morgan Rogers. Rogers has proven himself to be one of England's brightest attacking talents, but spending £117 million on a player whose preferred role overlaps with Cole Palmer naturally invites scrutiny. That said, modern football increasingly relies on tactical flexibility, and elite clubs often succeed by having multiple world-class options rather than a fixed starting XI. Ultimately, the success of this transfer will depend on whether Chelsea can integrate both players effectively rather than the size of the transfer fee alone.