Aston Villa set Ezri Konsa asking price as Arsenal line up deal
Aston Villa will "demand" in excess of £50million if Arsenal are serious about signing centre-back Ezri Konsa, sources have told Football Insider.
The Gunners have emerged as surprise suitors for the England international in recent days, but the Villans are extremely reluctant to lose their star defender.
Some reports have suggested that Konsa could be available for as little as £35m, but sources say that figure wouldn't even get close to Villa's valuation.
The 28-year-old still has two years remaining on his contract at Villa Park, and Unai Emery and Co. are understood to be relaxed over his future as a result.
The second city outfit also have Champions League football on offer next season, leaving little reason for their best players to target moves elsewhere.
Konsa has become a key figure for club and country during his time at Villa, and he failed to start in just four Premier League games last term.
Aston Villa ready to resist Ezri Konsa offers
Former Villa scout Mick Brown recently told Football Insider that he would be "very surprised" if his former club even entertained any offers for Konsa this summer.
The ex-recruitment man made it clear that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is a big fan of the versatile defender, who can play at both centre-back and right-back.
However, he noted that it is simply not in the interest of Emery and his staff to allow any of their best players out the door this summer.
Villa have been contending with PSR issues in recent years, but they are determined to try to resist a big sale once again as they prepare to return to the Champions League.
The boss knows that he will need a deep squad to balance the continental campaign with continued domestic success.
As a result, he and the Villa hierarchy are set to make it very difficult for anyone to prise Konsa away from them this summer.
Aston Villa hit by fresh £15m blow
Former Manchester City financial advisor Stefan Borson told Football Insider that Villa will miss out on at least £15m per year if they cannot agree a deal for a new front-of-shirt sponsor.
The Villans are one of several Premier League clubs that are struggling to get a sponsor arranged for their new kits, with Chelsea and Nottingham Forest also in the same boat at the moment.
Borson made it clear that Villa are growing increasingly concerned that they may miss out on a significant portion of revenue for next season as a result.
He made it clear that the process of agreeing sponsorships in "ongoing" throughout the year, and Villa should have had their next partnership agreed last autumn.