Sources: Ezri Konsa to Arsenal is '99% done'
Ezri Konsa's move to Arsenal is "99 per cent" done after he informed Aston Villa of his desire to leave, sources have told Football Insider.
Negotiations over a fee for the 28-year-old between the two clubs is at the final stages with an agreement expected at around £60-65million.
Sources say Konza has agreed terms with Villa and all parties are confident a full agreement will now be reached.
The Premier League champions have identified the England international as their top target for the defence this summer, as they look to cover for the significant injury suffered by William Saliba.
Konsa has just two years remaining on his contract at Villa and has been unwilling to sign an extension, with decision-makers forced to sell this summer if they are to extract maximum value.
The defender's exit will mark yet another damaging blow for Unai Emery, who has already lost star trio Youri Tielemans, Morgan Rogers and Lucas Digne this summer.
However, Villa are closing in on a big signing of their own, with Football Insider revealing earlier on Friday that the club have an "agreement in principle" with Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
Arsenal have also been linked with a move for Bayer Leverkusen defender Jarell Quansah, but sources have indicated to Football Insider that their interest in Konsa is stronger.
Why do Arsenal want Ezri Konsa?
Replacing Saliba for the several months he is expected to spend recovering represents a borderline impossible task for Arsenal this summer.
The 25-year-old is arguably the best centre-back on the planet, and played a huge hand in the Gunners' title-winning defence.
Mikel Arteta has demanded a solution, however, with 22-year-old Cristhian Mosquera and 16-year-old Marli Salmon thought to need support.
The sights seemed to be set on Konsa from the word go this summer, and their interest has only strengthened after his World Cup displays for England.
Much like Saliba, Konsa possesses strong ability on the ball and good recovery pace, making him an ideal candidate to partner the more aggressive Gabriel.
Unai Emery remains positive despite summer losses
Despite winning the Europa League last season and securing a place in the Champions League, Villa are being gutted.
Tielemans, Rogers and Digne were significant losses, and Konsa's departure will be just as damaging.
"I think we have consistently competed with the best in England, the best in Europe, no matter what the competition is," Emery said earlier this week.
"We will have our challenges. There is a lot of change, but when you look at other clubs around England there is a lot of change there as well: a lot of coaches changing, a lot of players changing.
"But what we still have is our main core, same manager, same methods, same desire to achieve more. A lot of people thought we had reached our ceiling a couple of seasons ago, and we proved them wrong."
Emery's confidence will be music to the ears of Villa fans, but there will undoubtedly remain a silent concern that the early weeks of the season may well be tumultuous.