Aston Villa are standing firm over Ezri Konsa as Arsenal remain around £25million short of their valuation for the England defender.
Unai Emery’s side have already rejected an offer worth approximately £35million and are demanding more than £60million before considering a sale.
Konsa has become one of Villa’s most important players under Emery and remains central to the club’s plans ahead of the new Premier League season.
Arsenal continue to pursue the 28-year-old as Mikel Arteta looks for another experienced defender, but the two clubs remain a long way apart.
Aston Villa refuse to lower Ezri Konsa valuation
talkSPORT reports that Villa rejected an Arsenal offer worth around £35million and value Konsa at more than £60million.
The Guardian has also reported that Villa want £60million and Arsenal are currently reluctant to meet that figure.
That leaves Villa in a strong negotiating position.
Konsa remains under contract until 2028 and Emery would be losing one of his most reliable defenders at a point when the squad has already undergone significant change.
ReadAstonVilla reported last week that Villa were preparing for Arsenal to return while also trying to secure Konsa on fresh terms.
The situation has since become increasingly uncertain, with ReadAstonVilla also reporting that members of the squad had begun to fear Konsa could leave this summer. That report already suggested Arsenal’s position remained significantly below Villa’s £60million valuation.
The latest figures underline just how significant that gap remains.
Villa have already lost Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans this summer, while Lucas Digne has also departed. Allowing Konsa to follow would create another major rebuilding job for Emery.
ReadAstonVilla analysed on Saturday why even receiving Villa’s £60million asking price would leave the club with a difficult replacement task.
Arsenal may return with another offer, but Villa have so far shown no indication they are prepared to reduce their demands.
Unless the Premier League champions move considerably closer to £60million, Konsa remains an Aston Villa player.
