The engine of the Premier League rumour mill never truly stops, but the gossip emanating from the GoalZaza desk this Wednesday has a distinctly pragma...
The engine of the Premier League rumour mill never truly stops, but the gossip emanating from the GoalZaza desk this Wednesday has a distinctly pragmatic feel. The headline act is Arsenal's renewed interest in Aston Villa's Morgan Rogers. On the surface, it is a curious target for a side chasing a clinical edge. Yet, peering past the headline, this smells of Mikel Arteta's long game.Rogers is not a finished article. He is raw power, a direct runner who can unsettle a low block by sheer velocity, something Arsenal too often lacked when faced with massed defences last term. The question is whether he possesses the final ball or the consistent positional intelligence to slot into Arteta's intricate machine. This is a punt, a bet on athletic potential over polished pedigree. Is this the profile to break a stubborn defence, or is it a project player for the Europa League nights You suspect the Arsenal recruitment team see a player who, with the right coaching, can offer a different dimension to the patient, lateral passing that so often grinds into a dead end.Elsewhere, the French connection is buzzing. Paris St. Germain's reported rivalry with Liverpool for the Ivorian defender Yan Diomande is a far more straightforward battle of the cheque books. Diomande, a centre back of imposing physicality and surprising composure in transitional play, fits the modern archetype. For Liverpool, this signals a clear intent to reinforce their spine, but PSG's financial muscle makes them a terrifying opponent in any negotiation. One imagines the agent is having a very pleasant Wednesday indeed.And then, the most human story of the bunch. Jack Grealish. The prodigal son who fell from grace. GoalZaza understands he is to be given a chance to revive his Manchester City career. It is a fascinating gamble. Pep Guardiola does not do sentiment. This is a cold, tactical assessment. Perhaps the manager believes a reset, a full pre season and a renewed hunger can unlock the player who was so pivotal to the treble. Or perhaps it is simply the market speaking. With his wage packet, shifting him is harder than fixing him. The question for Grealish is simple: can he rediscover the arrogance, the swagger, and the end product that made him a phenomenon The Premier League, and the Etihad bench, will be watching with bated breath.
