Aston Villa are working to secure a deal for Chelsea centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo as Ezri Konsa moves closer to joining Arsenal, according to reports. The 28-year-old Konsa is expected to undergo a medical on Thursday after the Gunners agreed a £51 million fee plus add-ons for the defender.
Konsa's departure leaves gap in Villa defence
Konsa has spent the last seven years at Villa Park and has been identified as Arsenal's priority defensive target following a back injury to William Saliba that will keep the Gunners' centre-back sidelined for an extended period. The move would see Konsa leave Villa after a long association with the club.
Villa have already lost several key players this summer. Morgan Rogers departed for Chelsea in a £117 million transfer, Lucas Digne moved to Paris Saint-Germain, and Youri Tielemans joined Manchester United. Manager Unai Emery will be keen to retain as much of his core squad as possible for the upcoming season.
Villa eye Tosin Adarabioyo as replacement
According to reports, Villa have identified Chelsea's Tosin Adarabioyo as a potential successor to Konsa. The Villans are now keen to strike a deal with the London club to bring the defender to Villa Park.
The coming season represents a significant challenge for Villa, who must balance Premier League duties with Champions League football and domestic cup competitions. Retaining squad depth will be crucial for Emery's side as they compete on multiple fronts.
Coverage and fan resources
BirminghamLive's football desk provides daily Aston Villa news, features and transfer updates. Dedicated reporter John Townley follows Villa home and away, offering comprehensive coverage from matchdays, press conferences and all developments in between.
Fans can sign up for a free daily newsletter delivering a round-up of key Villa stories to their email inbox. Breaking updates about the biggest stories around the club are also available via WhatsApp. The BirminghamLive app allows users to personalise content by selecting Villa as a designated topic, available for Apple and Android devices. The weekly Aston Villa podcast, Claret And Blue, is accessible on all major streaming services including YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts.
