Morgan Rogers backs Chelsea title push after £117m transfer

Morgan Rogers believes Chelsea have the quality and ambition to compete for major trophies again, with the £117m summer signing also confident his long-standing understanding with Cole Palmer can become a major asset at Stamford Bridge.

Rogers arrived from Aston Villa after helping England reach the World Cup semi-finals and finish third. The move made him the most expensive British player of all time, but the forward is embracing rather than avoiding the expectations surrounding him.

Speaking to Sky Sports, Rogers said there is already a “positive energy” around Chelsea following the arrival of a new manager and further changes to the squad.

“Chelsea is a club that wants to win things,” Rogers said, recalling the teams featuring Eden Hazard, Didier Drogba and Frank Lampard that regularly competed for Premier League and Champions League honours.

He believes the current squad have similar ambitions and wants Chelsea to change perceptions following a difficult period for the club.

Rogers' arrival has created questions over how Chelsea will accommodate him alongside Cole Palmer, but the England international believes their contrasting styles make them compatible.

The pair have known each other's games since they were teenagers at Manchester City and have subsequently played together for England.

“He's more of a passer, a linker, a combiner,” Rogers said of Palmer. “I'm more direct, more straight line and more physical.”

That familiarity leaves Rogers convinced they already understand how to complement each other.

“We know exactly how to play with each other and to get the best out of each other,” he said.

Their friendship also brings a competitive element, although Rogers stressed that winning for Chelsea must always come before any individual rivalry.

The size of Rogers' transfer fee inevitably puts greater attention on his performances, but the 24-year-old welcomes that responsibility.

“This is what I live for,” he said. “I want to be the topic of discussion when talking about games I'm involved in or England selections.”

Rather than being intimidated by becoming British football's record signing, Rogers sees the pressure as an opportunity to establish himself as a decisive figure for both Chelsea and England.

Attention will now turn to how Chelsea's new manager fits Rogers and Palmer into the same attacking structure.

Rogers is adamant their previous experience together removes many of the concerns surrounding that partnership. The bigger test will come in competitive matches, where Chelsea must translate the optimism surrounding their revamped squad into the trophy challenge Rogers believes they are capable of mounting.