Joe Cole, the former Chelsea midfielder, has admitted that Morgan Rogers has exceeded his expectations following his move from Aston Villa. Especially noteworthy is the attacking trio of Rogers, Cole Palmer, and Joao Pedro, which has left Cole thoroughly impressed.
Chelsea secured Rogers for a hefty £117 million last summer. The 24-year-old quickly settled into the squad and has already contributed with three goal involvements in his first three Premier League matches—two goals and one assist.
Rogers found the net just two minutes into the fixture against Arsenal, although Chelsea ultimately fell to a 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking on The Dressing Room podcast, Cole remarked:
It’s genuinely exciting to watch Chelsea at the moment. I was at Stamford Bridge for the match against Brighton, and the attacking trio of Morgan Rogers, Cole Palmer, and Joao Pedro looked absolutely sensational. It’s incredibly encouraging.
Moisey Caicedo's injury does cast a shadow over things. Romeo Lavia is a good player, but he hasn't managed to stay fit for long. Whether it's Reece James, Malo Gusto, or whoever is on the pitch there, it's not the combination of Enzo Fernandez and Caicedo.
I felt Arsenal had a slight edge in midfield, which allowed them to gradually take control of the game. Still, Chelsea has plenty to take pride in.
Cole went on to highlight both Rogers and Palmer:
Cole Palmer's impact from the summer has been clear—he looks very comfortable and natural with the ball.
And Morgan Rogers is a real monster. I had no idea he was this good. I knew he was a player of a high calibre, but… his first touch—bang! He sparked the game into life immediately.
From a recruitment standpoint, it’s been a brilliant summer for Chelsea. The squad looks more balanced, and Habi Alonso will only improve further; we have so many fantastic players.
However, Cole pointed out that after the sale of Enzo Fernandez to Manchester City, Chelsea faces a shortage of options in midfield. On the final day of the transfer window, Chelsea attempted to sign Lamina Kamara from Monaco, but the deal fell through.
Cole added:
There’s one contentious issue: I believe we’re lacking in midfield players, and that’s something that needs addressing.
But I like that the club didn’t panic after failing to sign the lad from Monaco—Lamina Kamara, who was our top target. They didn’t go for someone just for the sake of numbers.
For a player of the necessary quality, we’d have to fork out £40-50 million, and Chelsea can’t afford to make any more mistakes. I’m bracing for a shortage in this area over the next three months if the club doesn’t bring in a player we genuinely need.
Cole also offered a positive assessment of the transfer for Maxence Lacroix, describing the Frenchman as a “very, very good central defender” who has already strengthened the team.
