Arsenal pushing on with deal to sign Villa's Konsa

Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa is set to undergo a medical with Arsenal this Thursday in a deal worth over £50 million to the Emirates Stadium. The negotiations for the England international concluded with Arsenal's agreement on Wednesday. Konsa has been granted permission to travel to north London after weeks of talks. Though Arsenal had previously shown interest in Bayer Leverkusen's Jarell Quansah, they have now shifted their focus back to Konsa.

The 28-year-old, who joined Villa in July 2019, has made 286 appearances across seven seasons, including 48 games last term as Villa won the Europa League and finished fourth in the Premier League. However, Konsa has not featured in pre-season matches, including a 2-1 defeat to Paris St-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup, after being given a four-week break following the World Cup.

Arsenal manager Unai Emery explained Konsa's absence, stating that the defender will join the team after their upcoming match. The absence of Konsa, goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, and midfielder Ollie Watkins was due to their pre-season preparations. Despite the summer transfer window leading to significant changes at Villa, Emery maintains confidence in the squad's structure and performance.