Arsenal target Ezri Konsa in cut-price £35m deal as part of double Villa swoop

Arsenal are targeting a double raid on Aston Villa this summer, with defender Ezri Konsa and attacking midfielder Morgan Rogers both identified as priority signings, according to reports.

Konsa has been one of England’s standout performers at the 2026 World Cup in North America, playing every minute of the tournament under Thomas Tuchel. His versatility — capable of operating at both centre-back and right-back — has made him an attractive proposition for the Gunners, who believe they can acquire him for approximately £35million. Villa, however, value the defender more highly. Konsa has two years remaining on his current contract at Villa Park.

Arsenal’s interest in Konsa is partly driven by their awareness that Villa must sell players this summer to comply with profitability and sustainability rules (PSR), potentially giving the Gunners leverage in negotiations.

Rogers, 23, has been a more peripheral figure at the World Cup, coming off the bench in England’s opening two group-stage games before starting the full 90 minutes of the win over Panama. He returned to the bench as an unused substitute in the 2-1 victory over DR Congo. On the club front, Rogers was in exceptional form last season, contributing 14 goals and 12 assists in 55 appearances as Villa won the Europa League.

Villa are reluctant to sell Rogers, who is contracted until 2031, and are firmly in control of any potential deal. Arsenal are nonetheless said to believe a bid in the region of £85million could open talks. Any transfer would be complicated by a 20 per cent sell-on clause held by Middlesbrough, stemming from the deal that took Rogers to Villa Park in January 2024.

England midfielder Declan Rice is reportedly attempting to convince his international teammate Rogers to make the move to the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has made clear his ambitions for the window as the club look to defend their Premier League title. “We’ll start to make some very important decisions, we want to reach another level,” Arteta said at the end of last season. “We’re going to have to show that ambition because they are more than capable of doing it but it’s going to demand us to be very, very ambitious, very fast and very smart.”