The England international’s future is under the spotlight.
Villa are preparing to rebuff any offers for Ezri Konsa which fall short of their valuation for the defender.
Konsa’s future is suddenly the subject of speculation amid interest from Arsenal but Villa are ready to play hardball over any unwanted approaches.
The 28-year-old is the club’s most prized asset alongside England team-mate Morgan Rogers and thought to be valued at around £60million.
Yet while Villa acknowledge every player has his price, they have no desire to depart with either man this summer.
Arsenal’s interest in Konsa is thought to only be tentative at this stage and it remains to be seen whether they will make any formal advance for the centre-back or Rogers, with whom they have already been heavily linked with this summer.
Co-owner Nassef Sawiris is expected to ignore any offers for Rogers which fall below the £100m mark, with the midfielder also of interest to Chelsea and Paris Saint-Germain in addition to the Gunners.
Villa are facing another balancing act in the transfer window as they seek to comply with financial fair play rules and some sales will be required.
But the preference is to offload those players on the fringes of the team rather than any star performers.
Forward Evann Guessand is thought to have several suitors after impressing while on loan at Crystal Palace during the second half of last season. Midfielder Lamare Bogarde is also attracting interest from Brighton and Sunderland.
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