Arsenal hold new talks for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa

Arsenal have entered new discussions regarding a potential transfer for Aston Villa central defender Ezri Konsa. The Premier League champions are looking to strengthen their defensive options following the recent acquisition of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle.

Recent developments indicate that the Gunners intend to increase their previous offer for the England international, which stood at approximately £30m. However, a significant gap remains between the two clubs, as Aston Villa are demanding a fee of £60m for the player.

Villa have indicated they are unwilling to consider any offers that do not meet their £60m valuation. The 28-year-old defender, who is currently on post-World Cup holiday, has become the primary defensive target for Mikel Arteta. Arsenal are particularly interested in the versatility offered by the defender.

This pursuit follows previous interest from Arsenal in Tottenham captain Cristian Romero. Exploratory talks were held with the Spurs regarding Romero before the defender reached an agreement to join Atletico Madrid.

Konsa was a regular fixture for Aston Villa last season, making 48 appearances across all competitions. His campaign included winning the Europa League title.