Aston Villa spark Man City interest in January transfer window

Aston Villa's activity in the January transfer window could see some unexpected Manchester City involvement.

Unai Emery's side have been one of the surprise packages in the Premier League this season and sit third in the table - level on points with City and two off Liverpool having played a game more - after an excellent campaign that included wins over City and Arsenal in the same week. The Midlands club head to the Etihad at the beginning of April aiming to achieve their first double over the Blues since 1963.

Villa are attempting to strengthen in the January transfer window to keep the momentum in the campaign and Emery has identified Middlesbrough forward Morgan Rogers as a key target. Reports indicate there has already been a bid rejected for the 21-year-old, who has impressed for Michael Carrick's side in the Championship this season.

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City signed Rogers as a 17-year-old from West Brom in 2019 for £4m but he failed to make a first team appearance. The youngster impressed on loan in League One at Lincoln but struggled to get into a Bournemouth team gunning for promotion back to the Championship in 2021 and after a loan spell at Blackpool last summer he was sold at a loss in a seven-figure move to Middlesbrough.

Despite taking the loss on transfer fee, City inserted a high sell-on fee to protect themselves if Rogers did take off at his new club. That could earn them a small bonus as early as this month if Villa are successful in signing the player from Boro.

City are also set to net a fee if Kalvin Phillips moves on loan for the rest of the season. The England international has