Arsenal have reignited their interest in Aston Villa's central defender Ezri Konsa, identifying him as a preferred option in their pursuit of defensive reinforcements. The London club's initial summer move for the 28-year-old England international did not materialize, reportedly due to a valuation gap, with Arsenal willing to offer around £30 million while Villa valued Konsa at £60 million.
Konsa, who is currently on holiday after the World Cup and did not feature in Aston Villa's Super Cup game against Paris St-Germain, played 48 games across all competitions last season, helping the team win the Europa League. His versatility is seen as a valuable asset by Arsenal.
While Arsenal have successfully signed Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle, they are now accelerating their efforts to secure Konsa. However, the Premier League champions acknowledge they will need to substantially improve their initial offer to meet Aston Villa's valuation. It remains uncertain if Villa would be willing to part with the defender for a fee below their asking price.
In parallel, Arsenal have reportedly held exploratory talks with Tottenham regarding their club captain, Cristian Romero. Despite the intense rivalry between the two North London clubs, Spurs are not thought to be open to selling the 28-year-old to Arsenal. Romero, who suffered a knee injury in April that ended his domestic season, returned to start for Argentina in the World Cup, playing 70 minutes in their final defeat against Spain.