via Reuters
Arsenal made contact with Atletico Madrid about a deal to sign Marc Pubill before completing a move for Ezri Konsa, Fabrizio Romano has told GIVEMESPORT's Market Madness podcast.
The Gunners reached an agreement with Aston Villa on a deal worth £51m plus add-ons to sign England international Konsa on Wednesday afternoon, with the 28-year-old defender due to undergo a medical on Thursday before putting pen to paper on a long-term contract at the Emirates Stadium.
He will join Christos Tzolis, Illan Meslier, and Bruno Guimaraes as fellow signings in this window, as Mikel Arteta looks to defend the Premier League title they won last season.
But while a deal for Konsa is now on the brink of completion ahead of the new league season, Romano has revealed that the club have been looking at a number of options throughout the transfer window, including Spain and Atletico Madrid defender Pubill.
"I think, also, Arsenal are going to be busy, as you say," he said.
"The Konsa [deal] is done. It's verbally agreed for £50m plus add-ons, so everything is okay. He will have his medical in the next 48 hours, and then [it] will be official. So finally, the new defender.
"They also called Atletico Madrid in recent days for Marc Pubill, but the player was not for sale, and so Arsenal closed the deal for Konsa."
Pubill moved to the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium last summer and became a regular under Diego Simeone, featuring 36 times in La Liga, earning himself a call-up to the Spain World Cup squad as they lifted the trophy for the second time.
His performances over the season have earned him the adoration of Simeone, and it's very clear that they had zero intention of letting him leave before the deadline, which allowed Arsenal to make their move for Konsa more concrete.
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Marc Pubill La Liga Stats 25/26
Appearances
Minutes
Tackles (per 90)
Interceptions (per 90)
Clearances (per 90)
Blocks (per 90)
Statistics courtesy of WhoScored.
Simeone Feels Pubill Can Be CB or RB
Marc Pubill
Part of the reason behind Konsa being Arsenal's top defensive target in this window as the fact that he has great versatility, and is capable of playing at both right-back and centre-back to a high level.
The same can be said of Pubill, too, and Simeone has sung his praises in public previously about the potential that he has in the centre.
"He's remained patient, continued working in that position where we've spent countless mornings trying to improve, because he knew we'd need him there. I hope he doesn't buy the newspapers or listen to the radio," he said.
"He has speed, strength, aggression, aerial ability, good with his feet, and the ability to press with his back to goal."