Arsenal don enter advanced talks with Aston Villa to sign England defender Ezri Konsa. The Gunners don dey chase this player all summer, but Villa no wan reduce dia £60m valuation. Di 28-year-old still get two years for im contract with Villa.
According to Sky Sports, if there be one tin Arteta like, na players wey fit win duels. Last season, Konsa win more ground duels than any other Premier League player, e finish far ahead of Virgil van Dijk and Gabriel, wey likely go be im teammate next season.
Arsenal need defensive help because William Saliba and Jurrien Timber dey injured. Dem get Cristhian Mosquera and Ben White wey fit cover, but White get injury record wey dey worry dem. Konsa fit play both right-back and centre-back, so e go add depth.
Arteta talk say e want make Arsenal become best club for world. E talk am for Premier League launch event before dia opener against Coventry. E say dem need best facilities, stadium, supporters, and players wey fit win matches.
If dis deal complete, Arsenal go don fill important part of dia team and go near finishing dia transfer window. But dem still dey look for forward player. Arteta say e dey excited to keep building after dia Premier League win.
Arsenal go enter season as favourites to retain title, especially after dem beat Manchester City 3-0 for Community Shield. Arteta say e dey comfortable with that position. E say di fire for im players eyes na wetin e dey care about.
History dey against Arsenal sef, because dem no don defend top-flight title since di 1930s. But Arteta say na opportunity wey dey ahead, and e feel di ambition and desire for di team.
BBC Sport report say Arsenal don refocus on Konsa after dem bin consider Jarrell Quansah from Bayer Leverkusen. Dem say there dey optimism say agreement fit happen. The Athletic also report say Konsa return to Villa for pre-season on Monday after im World Cup break. Work dey advance after dialogue at ownership level to reduce di valuation gap.
Konsa be important member of England squad wey reach World Cup semi-final dis summer. E start every match until di 2-1 defeat to Argentina for di last-four stage, where e come in as substitute for di 72nd minute. E don make 286 appearances for Villa since e join from Brentford for 2019.
Last season, e make 48 appearances for all competitions as Villa win Europa League and finish fourth for Premier League. For 2024-25 campaign, e start all but one of Villa Champions League fixtures as dem reach quarter-final, where Paris Saint-Germain beat dem.
Villa dey experience big change dis summer. Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans, and Lucas Digne don leave, while Emi Martinez future dey uncertain. There also dey interest from Saudi Arabia for forward Ollie Watkins. If Konsa also leave, e go be new-look Villa wey go start di season.
