Liverpool can gift Morgan Rogers dream shirt number despite £110m transfer U-turn

Liverpool have reportedly cooled their interest in Morgan Rogers as a potential successor for Mohamed Salah. However, with plenty of time before any such plan would need to be actioned, it's impossible to completely rule out a future swoop for the Aston Villa ace.

Rogers was hailed as one of England's most promising talents last month when he scooped the 2025 PFA Young Player of the Year award. The 23 year old netted 14 goals and provided 16 assists in all competitions last season, helping Villa secure a sixth-place finish in the Premier League and reach the Champions League quarter-finals.

As a result, he's been linked with big-money moves to London giants Chelsea and Tottenham, and now potentially Liverpool, should he choose to wait for Salah to leave Anfield.

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The CIES Football Observatory currently values the England international at an estimated transfer fee of €109m-£127m (£95m-£110m), and there's no reason why this couldn't increase if his performances continue to improve.

An important part of any transfer is the player choosing the squad number they'll wear during their time at the club.

In Liverpool's case, they've created the perfect opportunity to lure Rogers to build his legacy at Anfield rather than Villa Park, reports the Liverpool Echo.

In a fresh chat with Roman Kemp for Sky Sports Premier League, the attacking midfielder was quizzed about whether he'd stick with the No.27 shirt for the rest of his career.

"I went to Lincoln on loan and it was the only number that looked remotely okay at the time," he replied. "It wasn't my number but I was looking the numbers and thought none of these [suit me].

"It was because it had the seven in, [Cristiano] Ronaldo was my idol growing up. So, because it had the seven I picked that.

"I wasn't necessarily sold on it but because then I had a good loan, it kinda stuck with me. It's always the number I'd pick if I go to a club."

The previous player to don that squad number at Liverpool was Darwin Nunez, who sported it during his debut season at Anfield in 2022/23. It has stayed empty ever since the Uruguayan moved to the No.9 shirt, prior to his recent departure to Al-Hilal.

Consequently, it stays available for Rogers to claim should the Reds launch their next transfer bid for the Villa star. Alternatively, Rogers may be compelled to wait for the other shirt numbers he would covet most to become free at Liverpool.

When asked if he wants No. 7 shirt the most, he answered: "It'd be up there."

Florian Wirtz became the Reds' new bearer following his £116m move from Bayer Leverkusen this summer. And Alexis Mac Allister holds the other he might fancy.

Rogers added: "The No.7 has gone out of fashion, I think 10 is the new No.7 now. When I was growing up, seven was the number everyone wanted. You look at a team and the best player always wears No.7, now I feel like that is the No.10."

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