Arsenal ramp up transfer chase for top Mikel Arteta target as 'bid imminent'

Arsenal are expected to step up their interest in Morgan Rogers after agreeing to sign Christos Tzolis.Last month, the reigning Premier League champions also triggered their £34.5m option to convert Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie’s successful season-long loan stint at the Emirates Stadium into a permanent transfer.Georgian Under-21 international Andria Bartishvili is another youngster that Arsenal are believed to be eager to sign this summer.Top target: Arsenal may have to pay a club-record fee to sign England star Morgan Rogers from Aston VillaGettyA first bid is now reportedly being prepared, according to talkSPORT, with Arsenal viewing Rogers as a versatile No10 who can also play down the flanks - as he did for England against Argentina.Read MoreIt remains to be seen if they are able to change Villa’s stance on being unwilling to sell their most prized asset following a superb season in which he enjoyed a starring role in their Europa League triumph and fourth-place finish in the Premier League.Rogers - previously of interest to Chelsea - scored 14 goals and provided 12 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions last term, earning UEFA’s Europa League Player of the Season award after both scoring and assisting in May’s 3-0 final win over Freiburg in Istanbul.Villa are closing in on the signing of Brazilian midfielder Joao Gomes from rivals Wolves in a deal worth £38m, while they have also beaten Newcastle to a club-record £50m move for Freiburg’s Switzerland international Johan Manzambi, who shone at the World Cup.It has been suggested that Villa value ex-Middlesbrough, Manchester City and West Brom attacker Rogers at £130m. He only a signed a new six-year contract in November that runs until the summer of 2031.Arsenal’s record signing is currently Declan Rice, who cost £105m when he arrived from West Ham in 2023.