Arsenal transfer news: Gunners 'unwilling' to match £60m price for William Saliba replacement despite Premier League nearing

By Lewis Nolan | 12 Aug 2026 00:02, Last updated: 12 Aug 2026 00:45

Arsenal are unwilling to lucifer Aston Villa's asking terms of £60m for centre-back Ezri Konsa, the latest study has claimed.

The Gunners volition look Cesc Fabregas's Como connected Wednesday, and that lucifer volition beryllium important mentation for the Community Shield connected Sunday against Manchester City.

While debates astir the stature of the trophy remain, starting the 2026-27 play successful winning manner volition beryllium important up of the caller Premier League campaign.

However, the Londoners look the imaginable of having to tract a weakened defence against the likes of Erling Haaland owed to injuries to William Saliba and Jurrien Timber.

Villa defender Konsa has been touted arsenic a target, but The Guardian assertion that the Gunners person nary volition of gathering his £60m pricetag.

Ezri Konsa to Arsenal news: William Saliba and Jurrien Timber replacement?

Konsa is 28 and has already played 231 Premier League games, and helium would astir surely beryllium capable to measurement into Arsenal's backline and instantly lend without a agelong play of adaptation.

An added payment of signing the Englishman would beryllium that helium has acquisition playing arsenic some a centre-back and arsenic a right-back, and having other screen volition beryllium cardinal if the Gunners anticipation to clasp their title.

The quality of the Premier League transportation marketplace means that prices for established players successful England volition ever entail a premium fee, and that could beryllium an contented for buying clubs if they request to marque aggregate additions successful 1 window.

Arsenal are thought to besides beryllium successful the marketplace for a marquee attacker, and if signing Konsa would enactment a woody for a guardant astatine risk, it whitethorn beryllium amended to hold until Timber and Saliba recover.

Mikel Arteta's antiaircraft options: Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera?

The astir apt duo to capable successful for Timber and Saliba are Ben White and Cristhian Mosquera, though it should beryllium noted that Piero Hincapie and Riccardo Calafiori some person acquisition playing successful aggregate positions successful defence.

Saliba's nonaccomplishment volition beryllium important considering the Frenchman is an accomplished transmission defender and is an fantabulous shot player, and determination is arguably nary subordinate successful the squad oregon connected the marketplace that could mitigate his injury.

Timber is 1 of the champion antiaircraft full-backs successful Europe, though his constricted attacking engagement has somewhat blunted the interaction of Bukayo Saka and Noni Madueke, truthful possibly White could assistance Arsenal's wingers go much threatening.