Arsenal eye Konsa as Saliba injury sharpens defensive need

Jul 17, 2026 - 09:10

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Arsenal eye Konsa as Saliba injury sharpens defensive need

Arsenal have expressed interest in Ezri Konsa and could step up their pursuit following William Saliba’s injury, according to The Guardian.

The England defender is admired for his versatility, able to play both centre-back and right-back, and is seen as a player who could provide immediate cover. Mikel Arteta is understood to be driving the interest.

Saliba was taken off at the start of the second half of France’s World Cup semi-final defeat by Spain. He had been managing a back problem for months, admitting he was “gritting his teeth” through the pain, with reports in France suggesting surgery may be required.

Arsenal intend to make their own assessment before any decision on that is taken. Doubts remain over whether Saliba will be fit for the start of the season, which has lent fresh urgency to the search for defensive reinforcement.

Arsenal eye Konsa as Saliba injury sharpens defensive need

Konsa’s stock has risen sharply this summer. He started every England game at the World Cup under Thomas Tuchel, remaining a constant while John Stones and Marc Guehi were rotated. He also filled in at right-back during the quarter-final win over Norway.

The stumbling block, as ever, is the fee. Arsenal value Konsa at around £35m, but Villa are understood to want closer to £60m. With two years left on his contract, Villa are under no pressure to sell cheaply.

Villa’s wider situation could yet shift the picture, however. They have lost Youri Tielemans to Manchester United and Lucas Digne to Paris Saint-Germain, while Amadou Onana faces a lengthy spell out with a knee injury. Those departures may force them to weigh offers.

Konsa has been a mainstay since joining from Brentford for £12m in 2019. Selling him would represent a blow to Unai Emery, even as Arsenal frame a move as sensible planning for a squad competing on four fronts.