Ezri Konsa is open to joining Arsenal this summer but will not force a move away from Aston Villa, according to reports. Mikel Arteta wants to add to his defensive options before the end of the summer transfer window due to William Saliba’s back injury, and Konsa is on the Premier League champions’ shortlist.
Arsenal’s bid rejected
Arsenal have already held talks with Villa over a deal for Konsa, but their opening offer of £30 million was immediately rejected. According to The Telegraph, Villa are demanding a £60m transfer fee and are refusing to lower their demands.
The report adds that Konsa ‘is thought to be open to a move’ to Arteta’s side but will not push to leave Villa Park. Konsa’s current deal expires in 2028, and Villa have offered the England international a new contract.
Konsa’s absence and Arteta’s stance
The 28-year-old did not travel with Villa’s squad to Salzburg for their 2-1 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Super Cup on Wednesday night, as he was granted four weeks of holiday by Unai Emery following England’s World Cup campaign.
Meanwhile, Arteta admits that he is unable to promise any further signings before the transfer window closes on September 3, but insisted that the desire to strengthen his Arsenal squad is ‘unquestionable’.
‘There is more that we want to do because every time we have an opportunity to improve the squad and bring more quality and depth to the squad, we need to do that,’ Arteta said after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Como on Wednesday evening. ‘But we are actively trying to do so. The thing in the market, it doesn’t just depend on you, and we are very clear on that.
‘But the approach, the will and the desire of the club, that’s unquestionable, and we want to try to do that. But we cannot promise that we’re going to do it because, again, it doesn’t only depend on us.
‘For the margins to improve there are very few players in the market who are available to do that and bring that to the club. But again, we are actively looking to improve that and we are going to try.’
