England may be out of the 2026 World Cup, but the summer transfer window rages on regardless. For players such as Ezri Konsa, the summer is far from over, as he is being eyed up for a high-profile transfer move.
Several teams in the Premier League’s so-called ‘big six’ are sizing up a move for the Aston Villa star after he had a successful season for both his club and on the international stage.
According to a recent report from The Guardian, Arsenal are looking to snap him up in the coming weeks after William Saliba sustained an injury whilst playing for France. While it looked innocuous at first, it could have long-term ramifications.
However, the Gunners are not along in their pursuit. Spanish outlet Fichajes have reported that Atletico Madrid are looking to sign Lisandro Martinez from Manchester United – if this comes to fruition, they will target Konsa as a replacement for the Argentina international.
Previously, TBR Football stated that both Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester City had an interest in the player, thought it is unclear if this interest persists.
On top of this, The Mirror claimed that Liverpool were looking to bring Konsa on board during the January transfer window, though this would also ultimately not take place.
Konsa is a man in demand right now. He still has two years left on his remaining contract, so Villa are not under any immediate pressure to sign him. Furthermore, at the age of 28, he is in his prime right now.
Right now, it is unclear how much Villa will want for Konsa. It’s also unknown whether they’ll be willing to let him leave or not – only time will tell.
Ezri Konsa 2025/26 Premier League stats
Games Goals Assists Y. Cards R. Cards
Ezri Konsa 34 0 0 0 1
Ezri Konsa 2026 World Cup stats
Games Goals Assists Y. Cards R. Cards
Ezri Konsa 7 0 0 0 0
What would Konsa bring to Arsenal or Manchester United?
A brilliant defender for the modern era, Konsa can do almost everything one would want out of a contemporary centre-back. He is fast, reads the game well and possesses excellent ball-playing skills.
If teams wish to play a high line, which is becoming more and more important in today’s game, Konsa is the ideal player to accomodate this. His pace and power allows him to catch runners playing off the shoulder with ease.
However, he does have a few weaknesses. At 5ft 11, he isn’t the tallest of centre-backs, meaning he can be beaten in aerial duels by some of the Premier League’s larger attacking players.
As well as this, he can be errant in his tackling. In particular, he was very lucky to not give a penalty away in England’s 0-0 draw against Ghana in the World Cup group stage.
Nevertheless, Konsa brings more than enough to the table to make up for these shortcomings. An adaptable player, he can also function as a right-back if he needs to.