Arsenal are reportedly closing in on a deal to signal centre-back Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa.
The Athletic’s David Ornstein reported that Arsenal are near finalising the switch for the England worldwide following discussions at boardroom degree between the 2 golf equipment.
Konsa, 28, is the Premier League champions’ high defensive goal, along with his flexibility in having the ability to function at right-back in addition to on the coronary heart of the defence providing important attraction.
Mikel Arteta’s males have additionally been linked with a transfer for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarrell Quansah, one other who can play each positions.
Nonetheless, with Leverkusen having seemingly made it clear Quansah is just not on the market, the Gunners will now look to tie up a transfer for Konsa and make him their fifth signing of the summer time.
Konsa has two years left on his contract with Villa, for whom he has made 286 appearances for the membership since becoming a member of from Brentford in 2019.
A vital determine for Villa of their rise beneath Unai Emery, Konsa featured in 48 video games final season, which ended with a fourth-placed end within the Premier League and glory within the Europa League courtesy of a 3-0 win over Freiburg within the last.
Konsa began all however one in every of England’s video games on the 2026 World Cup as they completed third, their finest efficiency on the event since their victory in 1966. He scored the second objective in England’s 6-4 win over France within the third-place play-off.
Arsenal fill final main want
Having made a big addition to the midfield by prising Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United and earlier introduced in a brand new left-winger within the type of Christos Tzolis, a signing on the again stood because the final main problem for Arsenal to deal with within the switch market.
Konsa’s seemingly imminent arrival checks that field, along with his signing coming at a time when each centre-back William Saliba and right-back Jurrien Timber are out by means of harm.
Whereas Guimaraes had a quiet recreation within the Neighborhood Protect win over Manchester Metropolis, Tzolis’ instrumental efficiency raised hopes the previous Norwich Metropolis ahead can reach his second spell within the Premier League after a prolific stint with Membership Brugge.
Arsenal may nonetheless look so as to add additional to their ranks up entrance, although it seems unlikely that reported curiosity in Vinicius Junior, Julian Alvarez and Bradley Barcola will lead to any of these stars making the transfer to Emirates Stadium.
However with Konsa offering essential energy in depth on the again, a workforce that had little issue slicing open Enzo Maresca’s Metropolis appears to be like in wonderful form to defend their title.
