Arsenal want to sign Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa.
The Gunners are preparing a formal bid for the England international, who has featured in every game in this summer’s World Cup.
Konsa is 28, and for a club that has generally prioritised younger profiles in the transfer market, particularly in defence, that might raise an eyebrow.
It shouldn’t.
Arsenal are defending a Premier League title, and could be without William Saliba for the first half of the season.
That would leave Cristhian Mosquera as the only natural right-sided centre-back currently in the squad, although Ben White could do a job there too.
Who should replace William Saliba at Arsenal if his injury rules him out for months?
This is not the time to sign a project signing like Josh Acheampong or any other not-quite-ready option to cover the best centre-back in the world.
Mikel Arteta needs an experienced, reliable head who’s done it before in this league and can do the job immediately, before becoming a solid backup player.
Ezri Konsa can be exactly that.
Arsenal have been looking for William Saliba cover for over a year
Saliba’s injury has moved this one up the priority list, but Arsenal have been searching for a sweeper-type centre-back to rotate with the Frenchman for some time.
They wanted Dean Huijsen last summer, and there were links to Maxence Lacroix even after signing Mosquera.
They then made an enquiry for Marc Guehi in January.
Arsenal know the Gabriel and Mosquera partnership isn’t ideal because they’re too similar. Both are aggressive, combative defenders, but as a pairing, the balance is off.
Saliba is a sweeper. He defends channels, reads the game from deep, and allows Gabriel’s skillset to function effectively alongside him.
Konsa fits that same profile. He’s calm, intelligent, and able to mop up behind a more aggressive partner.
The club have known what they need for a long time. Saliba’s injury has just made it more urgent.
Mosquera will still play. He has a role, and can still fill in at right-back too. But Arteta doesn’t want him partnering Gabriel as his first-choice partnership.
Why Ezri Konsa’s age profile could actually be part of the plan
At 28, Konsa gives Arsenal two to three years of high-level rotation cover.
That timeline aligns almost perfectly with the emergence and development of Marli Salmon.
The 16-year-old defender is very highly-rated inside the club and could be given his opportunity in the opening pre-season games given the current shortage of options at the back.
Could Marli Salmon be the next Hale End graduate to break into the Arsenal first team?
Salmon is too young to be relied upon this season, especially as a defender, but Konsa bridges the gap without blocking his pathway entirely.
Salmon will be 18-19 when Konsa is hypothetically phased out and, without meaning to put too much expectation on the teenager, he could eventually take over from Saliba if his development goes perfectly.
That is a sensible, structured plan.
The only potential issue with a Konsa deal is the fee. Villa reportedly want £60million for him, but Arsenal should be cautious about going over the £40million mark.
But given the financial leverage Arsenal have over Villa, Andrea Berta should be able to bring that valuation down.
If he can, there is very little to complain about with this one.
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