Arsenal, Premier League champions and de facto favourites for the coming campaign, had poured time and effort into a deal to sign the Aston Villa attacker this summer, who has developed into "one of the best" attacking midfielders in the world, according to pundit Robbie Mustoe.
He wanted to sign for Chelsea, and will indeed play at Stamford Bridge next season, with the Blues having agreed a £117m fee with Aston Villa to complete the deal.
But why have Chelsea decided to make this their marquee move? Where, exactly, will Rogers fit in?
How Alonso will utilise Rogers at Chelsea
Rogers is one of the most dynamic attackers in the Premier League, in front of goal, he is rich and he is relentless, a force to be reckoned with and a defining part of the Unai Emery revolution in the Midlands.
He only joined Villa Park for an £8.5m fee, but with that in mind, it's exciting to think about how he has skyrocketed, with more potential still to be tapped into.
Rogers is equally dangerous as an attacking midfielder or a runner down the left channel. He even played on the right for England this summer, demonstrating expert placement to find Anthony Gordon for England's opener in their semi-final defeat against Argentina.
Morgan Rogers - Career Stats by Season
Season
Apps
Goals + assists
|
Left winger
|
106
|
29 + 14
|
|
Attacking midfield
|
82
|
23 + 18
|
|
Right winger
|
44
|
9 + 17
|
|
Centre-forward
|
22
|
6 + 4
|
Part of Chelsea and Alonso's pitch was the assertion that Rogers would principally be used down the left, allowing him to combine with Cole Palmer in the middle. It's quite the partnership, and with Alejandro Garnacho being nudged toward the exit, it makes sense.
However, Chelsea are still incomplete, especially if Enzo Fernandez leaves the club this summer. Alonso needs a deep-lying playmaker to start off attacking transitions.
Chelsea in fresh talks to sign another English star
Alonso has already shown that he wants a central midfielder. Chelsea have pushed for Sunderland skipper Granit Xhaka, but the Black Cats are playing hardball over the 33-year-old, and the prospective deal has gone a little cold.
Instead, Chelsea should aim far higher, and they might at that, with club insider Simon Phillips revealing that fresh talks have taken place over a potential deal to sign Crystal Palace midfielder Adam Wharton, who the Eagles have valued at £100m, in keeping with the overinflated midfield market. Liverpool are also keen.
Wharton is one of England's most talented midfielders; it is a travesty that he did not make it onto the plane with Thomas Tuchel and the Three Lions this summer.
Analyst Ben Mattinson has described him as a "cheat code" in possession, so technical and measured are his ball-playing skills, and Wharton is undoubtedly emerging as a midfielder who could make a big difference at Chelsea, ranking inside the top 5% of Premier League midfielders last year for big chances created per 90.
Alongside a tough-tackling machine such as Moises Caicedo, Wharton would create a fluent, flowing base from midfield. He would be perfect for the likes of Palmer and Rogers, allowing the latter to hurtle down the wings and find space in the danger area, keeping things tidy at the heart of the pitch and picking out Palmer.
Rogers is a fantastic player, but he does need stability to thrive. His ball-carrying qualities require surgical deliveries from sharp-minded midfielders, and Wharton is in the top bracket there.
Moreover, he has won the FA Cup and the Conference League over the past couple of years under Oliver Glasner at Selhurst Park, and could cement himself as a superstar in a team such as Chelsea's.
After all, not only did the 22-year-old win over four duels and two tackles each Premier League match last season, but he also created a whopping 14 big chances, so his combative protection would allow Rogers to find space, and so would his world-class deliveries, picking out his surging countryman in Chelsea blue.
Make it happen, BlueCo. Chelsea fell by the wayside in the Premier League last year, but such ambition under Alonso's wing could catapult them right back up to the top.
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