Arsenal and Aston Villa are closing on an agreement for Ezri Konsa.
Daily Mail Sport revealed last week that Arsenal had improved their offer to £40m plus add ons and talks were ongoing as they try to reach a compromise.
Villa have been pushing for closer to £60m for the England centre-back.
Arsenal enquired about Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah as an alternative option.
Konsa, 28, has made 286 appearances for Aston Villa since joining the club in 2019 from Brentford.
The defender featured in 48 matches last season as Aston Villa won the Europa League and finished fourth in the Premier League.
Arsenal and Aston Villa are closing on agreement for England international Ezri Konsa
Konsa had served as Aston Villa’s vice captain last season, wearing the armband when John McGinn was absent.
The defender had been a vital player for England throughout the World Cup.
Konsa started seven of the Three Lions’ eight matches at the tournament, with Thomas Tuchel largely partnering him with Marc Guehi at the heart of the defence.
He also filled in at right back during England’s quarter-final victory over Norway.
