Aston Villa would “find it hard to turn down” a suitable offer from Arsenal for centre-back Ezri Konsa, sources have told Football Insider.
The Gunners have outlined the England international as a clear target, and view him as the perfect man to provide cover for the injured William Saliba.
The 28-year-old’s versatility is also a major check in his name for Mikel Arteta, given that he is also capable of playing at right-back.
Villa are facing serious difficulties when it comes to the SCR restrictions once again, and sources have indicated that they would reluctantly accept a suitable offer for Konsa.
However, it is understood at the moment that their Premier League rivals remain a sizeable distance short of their valuation of the defender.
The Villans have already sold the likes of Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans this summer, but another big sale could yet follow in the coming weeks.
Aston Villa holding out for full valuation
Konsa has cemented himself as a key performer for both club and country in the last few seasons, and his consistency in the Villa backline has alerted the reigning Premier League champions.
Arteta’s men have gained a reputation for their steely defensive work, and they view the Villa star as someone who could come in and add quality to an area of their squad that is already packed full of stars.
However, they will have to get close to Villa’s £60million valuation of the former Brentford man if they are to have any chance of doing a deal.
Konsa still has two years remaining on his current contract in the second city, and a sale will only be beneficial to his current club if they can secure maximum value.
Both sides also have Champions League football on offer for next season, having endured strong campaigns in their own right last time out.
Arsenal’s interest in Konsa has been sustained throughout the summer, but it is clear that they will have to make it truly worthwhile for Villa to cash in.
Aston Villa to protect Ezri Konsa with other key sale
Football Insider revealed last week that Villa intend to cash in on goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez before the end of the summer transfer window.
The Villans have decided that they would rather lose the Argentine than Konsa, and are planning for him to be their final sale in a bid to balance their books.
The gloveman has been heavily linked with a move away in all of the recent transfer windows, and was close to joining Inter Milan earlier this summer.
Martinez has been a fantastic servant for Villa in recent years, but they are prepared to cash in on him if it means they can then keep Konsa.
