Arsenal are preparing to make their move for another top-class defender as they look to strengthen the heart of their backline this summer.
According to the Daily Mail, the Gunners are preparing an offer for Aston Villa star Ezri Konsa, who has two years left in his current deal.
Konsa remains open to signing a new deal at Villa Park, although negotiations have yet to produce an agreement.
Should Arsenal launch a serious bid, turning down the opportunity to join the London outfit could prove extremely difficult.
The Gunners are now expected to prioritise signing an elite centre-back after William Saliba suffered an unfortunate back injury.
He was forced off during the FIFA World Cup semi-final against Spain after experiencing discomfort in his back.
Ezri Konsa could be the ideal solution
The 28-year-old has made 287 appearances for Aston Villa over the past seven years.
He has also earned 27 England caps and is currently part of the Three Lions squad preparing for the World Cup third-place play-off.
Konsa is widely regarded as a composed ball-playing defender with rich experience in the English top flight.
He recorded more than 95% passing accuracy last season and won 67% of his duels. He also made nearly four clearances and three recoveries per game.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has complete faith in Saliba, but he also understands that back injuries can be unpredictable and often require lengthy recovery periods.
Manchester United learned that lesson the hard way after initially believing Matthijs de Ligt would recover within days, only for the Dutch defender to miss several months before eventually undergoing surgery.
The Gunners will need outstanding defensive depth if they are to successfully defend the Premier League title while mounting another serious challenge for the UEFA Champions League.
A defensive unit featuring Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Ezri Konsa would give Arteta one of the strongest centre-back rotations in Europe.
Stats from Fotmob.com