Arsenal are reportedly setting their sights on Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, along with teammate Morgan Rogers. Both players are in North America as part of England's World Cup squad.
Konsa's World Cup Impact
Konsa has featured for every single minute of the tournament to date, having cemented himself as a first-choice centre-back under Thomas Tuchel. Attacking midfielder Rogers has had to be more patient, coming off the bench in the opening two group stage fixtures. He then played the full 90 minutes of the victory against Panama, before returning to the bench as an unused substitute in the 2-1 win over DR Congo on Wednesday.
Transfer Fee and PSR Compliance
The Daily Mail reports that Konsa is emerging as a genuine transfer target for Arsenal this summer, owing to his versatility in operating at both centre-back and right-back. It is further suggested that the Gunners believe he could be acquired for approximately £35million, though Villa place a higher value on the defender. Konsa has two years left to run on his current deal at Villa Park, and Arsenal are aware that Villa must offload players this summer to comply with profitability and sustainability rules (PSR).
Rogers Remains a Target
The club are reluctant to part with key man Rogers, but may be open to entertaining offers for other members of their squad. Arsenal remain keen on Rogers, with England colleague Declan Rice reportedly doing his best to persuade the forward to swap Villa Park for the Emirates Stadium. It is suggested that the Gunners believe a bid in the region of £85million could be enough to get talks with Villa off the ground. However, complications could arise due to a 20 per cent sell-on clause that Middlesbrough hold as part of the agreement that took Rogers to Villa in January 2024.
Rogers' Form and Contract
With Rogers tied to Villa until 2031, the Midlands side are firmly in the driving seat. The 23-year-old was in outstanding form last season, netting 14 goals and laying on 12 assists in 55 appearances across all competitions, playing a key role as Villa claimed the Europa League trophy.
Arteta's Ambition
Mikel Arteta will be eager to bolster his squad as Arsenal look to defend their Premier League crown next season. Reflecting on the club's transfer ambitions at the close of last season, the Gunners' manager set out his stall ahead of the summer window. "We'll start to make some very important decisions, we want to reach another level," he said. "We're going to have to show that ambition because they are more than capable of doing it but it's going to demand us to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart."
