Jude Bellingham's Man City traits are obvious as Blues prospect seeks to emulate star's journey

Morgan Rogers lets out a little chuckle.

"Yeah it would be nice to play with him one day, I don't want to play him against him anymore!" he laughs.

The player being discussed is Jude Bellingham, the teenage powerhouse setting European and world football alight with his performances for Borussia Dortmund and England. The 19-year-old will have his pick of clubs should he depart Germany in the summer.

Manchester City will be in the conversation and naturally Rogers would love to see Bellingham join him in the ranks at the Etihad. The two are good pals having risen together from youth football in the Midlands to joining two of the leading clubs on the continent.

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Rogers is currently on loan with Championship strugglers Blackpool but has first-team ambitions at City, where he's regularly trained with Pep Guardiola and the first team. He arrived in Manchester as a talented teen, fetching a near £4million at 16 having shone against City in an FA Youth Cup game with West Brom.

It was while playing for the Baggies' age-group sides that he first came up against Bellingham who at the time was a diminutive second striker making waves down the road at Birmingham.

"We grew up not far from each other, played in West Brom vs Birmingham midfield battles a number of times," said Rogers, speaking to the Manchester Evening News. "When he was younger he was half the height of me but I couldn't get near him. But in a different way, now people can't get near him because he is too good but before it was because he was so small and technical. He would turn out of any situation, weave in and out, and the way he has transformed and progressed is