Ezri Konsa is back at the centre of a transfer fight, with Arsenal weighing a second bid after Aston Villa held firm on a £60m valuation. Liverpool are also watching the defender, but the first question is whether Arsenal go again after their opening offer fell short. Konsa’s long service at Villa makes the stance predictable enough, with 286 all-comps appearances for the club since 2019.

Arsenal's follow-up test

Arsenal made an initial proposal for Konsa earlier in the summer that was below Villa’s £60million valuation. The report says they could test Villa’s resolve again with a follow-up offer, which is the real point now. Villa are not under pressure to move quickly, and that is why the next bid matters more than the first one did.

Konsa is not being chased on reputation alone. He played all 8 matches for England at the World Cup this summer and finished with a 6.71 average rating, a steady profile rather than a noisy one. Ollie Watkins also called him underrated and said he is one of the best centre-backs in the Premier League.

Liverpool's defensive shortage

Liverpool's angle is different. Andoni Iraola said the squad is very thin in defensive depth and needs solutions, and the report says Joe Gomez's injury in a friendly against Sunderland has left them short in central defence. Van Dijk is framed as the only fit senior centre-back in the squad, which is a clear reason for Liverpool's interest to keep hanging around.

Iraola also said the market should stay open to new options because there are obvious situations where the squad needs signings. That does not mean Liverpool are ready to outbid anyone for Konsa, only that the need is real and the club are not standing still. For now, Arsenal look like the side most likely to force the next move, but Villa's valuation remains the obstacle.

What happens next

The first bid did not get close to Villa's number, so Arsenal's next offer will tell the story. If it lands anywhere near £60m, the transfer starts to look much more serious. If it does not, Villa can keep their best argument simple: Konsa has given them 286 appearances since 2019, and they do not need to sell cheaply.

Written by Jack Mercer with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 2 outlets. How we work →