Aston Villa are expected to resist any Arsenal approach for Ezri Konsa as Mikel Arteta considers adding another versatile defender to his squad.
The Gunners have monitored Konsa following William Saliba’s back injury at the World Cup, with the Villa defender capable of playing at centre-back or right-back.
OneFootball claims Arsenal are preparing an opening offer, but there is currently no reliable confirmation that a formal bid is imminent.
The more established Telegraph report on Arsenal’s interest described their position as tentative and placed Villa’s valuation at around £60million.
Villa have no reason to sell Konsa
Konsa remains one of Unai Emery’s most dependable defenders and has two years left on his current contract.
Villa are already facing pressure from Arsenal over Morgan Rogers, making the prospect of selling two important first-team players to the same club particularly unappealing.
As Read Aston Villa previously reported, the club are determined to retain both players as Emery prepares for another Champions League campaign.
Konsa’s value has also increased following his performances for England at the World Cup. His ability to cover two positions would appeal to Arteta, but the same versatility makes him especially important to Villa.
The club have already lost Youri Tielemans this summer, while Morgan Rogers continues to attract strong Arsenal interest. Allowing Konsa to leave would create another significant position to address during an already busy rebuild.
Arsenal may decide to test Villa’s resolve, particularly if Saliba faces a lengthy absence. Villa’s position remains strong, however, and any proposal would need to exceed the reported £60m valuation before talks became realistic.
