Arsenal eye £60m Aston Villa defender as William Saliba’s Real Madrid move fuels transfer rethink

Arsenal are reportedly considering a move for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa as uncertainty surrounding William Saliba’s future could reshape the club’s transfer plans this summer.

The Gunners have been heavily linked with Aston Villa forward Morgan Rogers in recent weeks, with Mikel Arteta keen to strengthen his attacking options ahead of the new season. However, Villa’s reported £130 million valuation has made negotiations extremely difficult.

According to recent reports, Arsenal could instead focus their attention on Konsa if Saliba completes a move to Real Madrid. The England international has established himself as one of the Premier League’s most consistent centre-backs and would be viewed as a natural replacement should Arsenal lose one of their defensive stars.

Saliba continues to attract strong interest from the Spanish giants, although no agreement has yet been confirmed. His potential departure would likely force Arsenal to prioritise signing a central defender before making further investments in attack.

Meanwhile, Arsenal remain interested in Morgan Rogers despite Villa’s firm stance over the England international. Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently revealed that the Gunners have made encouraging progress with the player’s representatives, but Villa’s asking price remains a significant obstacle.

Paris Saint-Germain winger Bradley Barcola is also believed to be on Arsenal’s shortlist as the club explores alternative attacking options.

Whether Arsenal ultimately pursue Rogers, Barcola or Konsa could depend on developments surrounding Saliba’s future. If the French defender leaves for Real Madrid, strengthening the heart of the defence is expected to become one of Andrea Berta and Arteta’s top priorities before the transfer window closes.