Arsenal hold fresh Ezri Konsa transfer talks with £60m-rated England star top defensive target

ARSENAL have held fresh talks over a move for £60million-rated Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa. The Gunners indicated earlier in the summer they value the England star at half of Villa’s valuation. Ezri Konsa is only just returning to Aston Villa after a break from the World Cup Arsenal need to act now that William Saliba is suffering with a back issue But Unai Emery’s Europa League winners do not plan to drop their asking price. Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta wants to bolster his defence after William Saliba aggravated a back injury at the World Cup with France and is expected to be out for months. Sign up for the Football newsletter Thank you! Konsa, 28, remains Arsenal’s preferred target but sporting director Andrea Berta is exploring multiple deals. Barcelona defender Jules Kounde and Marc Pubill of Atletico Madrid have also been linked. Centre-back Konsa would offer Prem experience. But the club would be reluctant to lose him after banking over £150m this summer by selling key trio Lucas Digne, Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans. Konsa has also excelled for the Villans over the past few seasons.He is into the final two years of his deal but is yet to sign an extension. Konsa missed Wednesday’s Super Cup loss to Paris Saint-Germain after being given an extended post-World Cup break. Most read in Sport BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK Arsenal and Aston Villa are reportedly £20m apart in their valuation of Konsa He featured eight times for England and returns to Villa training next week. Arsenal have also been linked to Victor Osimhen tonight. The Nigeria forward is believed to have been brought up in talks with Galatasaray as they pursue Gabriel Martinelli. Comment now