Arsenal have held further talks over a deal for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa.
However, it is understood the Premier League champions’ proposal is around £40million so still short of Villa’s £60m valuation of the England centre-back.
Konsa is still on holiday after the World Cup so is not part of Villa’s squad to face Paris St Germain in the Super Cup this evening.
Daily Mail Sport reported last month that Konsa was the Gunners’ top target for central defence though their initial proposal was well below Villa’s demands.
Konsa has remained on Arsenal’s radar since. He has two years remaining on his current deal at Villa Park and the club would like him to sign a new one.
Having already seen key men Morgan Rogers and Youri Tielemans depart this summer, and with Lucas Digne now at Paris Saint-Germain, Villa boss Unai Emery would have an even bigger rebuilding job were Konsa to depart.
Ezri Konsa (left), pictured in a duel with Kylian Mbappe at the World Cup, is a target for Arsenal
Having recouped more than £140m for Rogers, who joined Chelsea, and Tielemans, who signed for Manchester United, Villa are not under financial pressure to sell Konsa and are unlikely to do so without a high-level replacement lined up.
With William Saliba facing a lengthy injury absence – the Gunners are chasing reinforcements at the back.
Their pre-season form has further illuminated Saliba’s absence, conceding an uncharacteristic number of goals, recently losing to Borussia Dortmund 3-2.
Konsa will be 29 in October and his next contract will be the most significant of his career financially.
If he is to agree fresh terms at Villa, he would be among the highest earners at the club along with goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.
