The club’s transfer window is expected to get busier after the World Cup.
Villa are braced for bids from Arsenal for Ezri Konsa and Morgan Rogers when the England duo return from the World Cup.
Both are on the radar of the Premier League champions but Villa are prepared to play hardball as they try to hold on to two of their biggest stars.
Arsenal’s interest in Rogers has long been known, with the 23-year-old believed to be their top forward target.
A move for Konsa, meanwhile, is now considered more likely due to the back injury sustained by William Saliba which could keep the France international out for several months.
Villa do not want to lose either player and have been preparing to offer Konsa a new contract.
The 28-year-old has two years remaining on his current deal and is valued by Villa at around £60million, a price tag it is thought the Gunners at this stage would be unwilling to meet.
Rogers, who has registered 50 goal involvements in the Premier League over the last two seasons, is valued even higher with chairman Nassef Sawiris unlikely to consider any offers of less than £100m.
The Halesowen-born midfielder signed a new contract through to 2031 only last year.
But while Villa have insisted he is not for sale, that is unlikely to prevent Arsenal making an approach.
Konsa and Rogers are both expected to feature when England complete their World Cup campaign against France in Saturday’s bronze medal match. There they will face Villa team-mate Lucas Digne, who is expected to complete an £8m switch to Paris Saint-Germain next week.
Neither Konsa or Rogers is due back at Villa until after the club completes a pre-season tour of the Far East next month, with those players involved at the World Cup having been given additional time off by boss Unai Emery.
The rest of Villa’s squad, including the likes of Matty Cash, Tyrone Mings and Ian Maatsen, returned to Bodymoor Heath earlier this week.
Villa play their first friendly away at Walsall on Tuesday night. Club captain John McGinn is expected to join the group in time for the Far East tour, which will see Villa play in Indonesia and Thailand before facing Bayern Munich in Hong Kong.
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