Aston Villa could sign their new Ezri Konsa “this week”

It’s all going on at Aston Villa. An agreement with Parma has been reached to sign Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who will sign for around £30m – regardless of Emi Martinez’s future.

The 23-year-old Japan international impressed at this summer’s World Cup, and a deal will go ahead, even though Emi Martinez‘s proposed transfer to Juventus has fallen through. Yet again, the Argentina shot-stopper has been left in limbo after seeking a way out of Villa Park.

It’s been a summer of change for Unai Emery and his outfit, who celebrated Europa League triumph in May and have secured passage back into the Champions League, but have been hit by any number of setbacks throughout summer.

The record-breaking sale of Morgan Rogers to Chelsea has been the big one, while Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne has left too, stripping this title-winning outfit of their experience and grit.

It’s not done yet. Arsenal are on the hunt for a defender to replace the injury William Saliba, and they’ve set their sights on Ezri Konsa.

Why Aston Villa might sell Ezri Konsa

Konsa is one of the most experienced members of Emery’s Aston Villa squad. He has been a mainstay from the get-go, and his defensive expertise and cool-headed passing landed him a starring role with England at the World Cup.

But the 28-year-old has entered the penultimate year of his contract in the Midlands, and as reports suggest that the Gunners are closing in on a move for the England star, it’s hard to argue against the move, should Villa’s £60m valuation be met.

In the Premier League last season, Konsa won 73% of his ground battles and completed 95% of his passes. Replacing him won’t be easy, for his defensive presence has been critical to the success of Emery’s project in recent years.

Aston Villa are pretty well stocked in defence, but they would lose some of their ball-winning essence through the sale of Konsa. To replace him, Emery might need to think outside the box.

How Aston Villa plan on replacing Konsa’s qualities this summer

If Konsa leaves, Aston Villa will need to draft in a talented new centre-back, but they may also need to pursue a player of a certain likeness, ensuring Emery’s system maintains the sharp defensive edge that has allowed them to power past so many opponents in recent years.

That player could come in the form of Aaron Wan-Bissaka. According to the Daily Mail’s Tom Collomosse, an offer is expected “this week” for the West Ham United right-back, who is itching to leave east London now that the Irons are down into the Championship. West Ham are expected to demand £25m for his signature.

Wan-Bissaka, 28, isn’t coming off the back of his finest season, but he was stuck in a wider malaise at West Ham that sent the club spiralling down, and he has a wealth of previous experience that illustrates his quality as a tough-tackling, cool-headed presence in the Premier League.

The right-back would not arrive at Villa Park as a like-for-like Konsa replacement, but would instead instil the kind of composure that Aston. Villa would lose if and when Konsa completes a transfer to the Emirates.

Long regarded as “an absolute monster” in defence, Wan-Bissaka also showed during the 2024/25 Premier League season that he has variation to his game. He averaged 1.8 dribbles per game, with an impressive success rate of 60%.

He proved less robust than usual for West Ham last term, but there’s no question that, like Konsa, he is one of the meanest one-vs-one defenders out there.

Like Konsa, the DR Congo international, who caught the eye against England at the World Cup, is probably a touch underrated. He is a Premier League mainstay, and though this wouldn’t be the most flashy of signings for Emery’s Aston Villa this summer, there’s no question that it could be a prudent move indeed – especially if Konsa leaves for Arsenal.