Arsenal reportedly agrees terms with William Saliba's replacement

Arsenal Football Club have agreed terms with Ezri Konsa as they move closer to signing the Aston Villa defender as Mikel Arteta looks to strengthen his backline before the new season.

The Gunners have made significant progress in negotiations with the England international, who is understood to be keen on making the switch to the Emirates. While the player's side of the deal is now in place, Arsenal must still agree a transfer fee with Aston Villa before the move can be completed.

Aston Villa are reportedly demanding between £60 million and £65 million for Konsa, reflecting his importance to Unai Emery's side. Arsenal, however, are believed to be aiming for a deal closer to £40-50 million, with talks expected to continue after an earlier bid was turned down.

However, Villa are reluctant to lose one of their most reliable defenders, especially after another impressive season in which Konsa established himself as one of the Premier League's standout centre-backs.

Why Arteta wants Konsa?

Arsenal's pursuit of Konsa has intensified following defensive injury concerns involving William Saliba and Jurriën Timber. Arteta values the 28-year-old's versatility, with the defender capable of playing both as a centre-back and at right-back.

His composure in possession, defensive intelligence, and Premier League experience make him an ideal fit for Arsenal's system, which demands defenders who are comfortable building attacks from the back.

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