Arsenal missing out on Morgan Rogers to Chelsea has been dominating the headlines.
The Gunners seemed to be the clear favourites to sign the Aston Villa attacker, but Andrea Berta refused to offer what Chelsea eventually did to get the deal done.
What’s more interesting, however, is that Aston Villa are said to have been angered by Arsenal for the way they went about signing Rogers.
That may have played a part in their failed attempt to sign Rogers, and it could cost them another signing too now.
Who should Arsenal sign now after missing out on Morgan Rogers to Chelsea?
Arsenal’s hopes of signing Ezri Konsa could be over now because of Aston Villa’s anger
Arsenal have struggled to do any business with Aston Villa in recent years.
The Gunners tried to sign Ollie Watkins previously, but their bids were rejected by Unai Emery’s side, and he ended up staying.
The Rogers attempt angering Villa dents the relationship between the two sides even more, and that could hurt Arsenal’s chances of signing Ezri Konsa.
The Gunners are looking to sign a new centre-back following William Saliba’s back injury, and the Aston Villa defender is their top target.
Reports claimed that Arsenal are preparing a bid to sign Konsa, but their valuation of the player is nowhere near Villa’s £60 million demand.
With the relationship between the two clubs already in a difficult place, Villa may just decide to close the door on any deal for Konsa.
Even if they are open to selling, we don’t think they will entertain any bargaining.
So, Arsenal may have blown their chance of signing both Rogers and Konsa in this window, and that is not ideal, considering that the new Premier League season is just over a month away.
Who should replace William Saliba at Arsenal if his injury rules him out for months?
Arsenal have alternatives for both Morgan Rogers and Ezri Konsa
Rogers is off to Chelsea, and Arsenal must assume at this stage that a deal for Konsa is unlikely as well.
That puts Berta under enormous pressure to find alternatives, and there have been reports linking the Gunners to similar players.
Bradley Barcola is Arsenal’s alternative target to Rogers, and if the North Londoners can get him, he would be an incredible signing.
As for the defence, Real Sociedad’s Jon Martin is on the Gunners’ radar, and Berta could turn to the Spaniard instead of Konsa.
Whether Arsenal will make a move for either player, however, remains to be seen.
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