Arsenal are preparing a fresh bid for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa after agreeing a deal to sign Newcastle United captain Bruno Guimaraes.
The Brazil international has already completed his medical with Arsenal and is expected to strengthen Mikel Arteta’s midfield options. His arrival would become the club’s fourth confirmed signing of the summer, with the Gunners continuing to build a squad capable of competing on several fronts.
Premier League champions Arsenal have already brought in Christos Tzolis and Illan Meslier. They have also made Piero Hincapie’s move permanent after he spent last season at the club on loan.
The agreement for Guimaraes follows lengthy negotiations between Arsenal and Newcastle United. Once completed, the transfer will add further depth and quality to Arteta’s midfield, with the Brazilian set to become one of the most significant additions to the squad.
Arsenal’s transfer plans do not end there. The club remain interested in completing a major deal for Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid, while Konsa has emerged as their leading target at centre-back.
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are ready to submit a second offer for the England international as they look to reinforce their defence following William Saliba’s back injury while he was representing France at this summer’s World Cup.
Arsenal made an initial approach for Konsa earlier in the summer, but that proposal was reportedly well below Aston Villa’s valuation of £60m for the 28-year-old. Despite that setback, Arsenal have not abandoned their pursuit and are considering a further offer to test Villa’s resolve.
Villa are under the management of Unai Emery and have already seen Morgan Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne leave the club during the current transfer window. However, they are not believed to be under financial pressure to sell Konsa.
The report also says Aston Villa would only consider allowing Konsa to join Arsenal at Emirates Stadium if they first secured a suitable replacement.
Konsa played in all eight of England’s matches at this summer’s World Cup. The Three Lions finished third, their best result at the tournament since 1966.
Arsenal’s interest reflects the need to strengthen their defensive options, particularly with Saliba unavailable because of his back problem. A successful move for Konsa would give Arteta another established central defender while adding to a recruitment drive that has already included Tzolis, Meslier, Hincapie and the imminent arrival of Guimaraes.
The potential transfer would also represent a significant decision for Aston Villa, who would need to weigh the value of a £60m sale against the difficulty of replacing a player who featured in every one of England’s World Cup fixtures.
