Aston Villa eye Ezri Konsa replacement – and both could make debuts in Arsenal showdown

Arsenal are on the verge of signing Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa as club executives scramble to find an apt replacement for the centre-half

Arsenal and Aston Villa go head to head in the Premier League later this month, and both teams could bolster fresh faces at centre-half.

The Gunners are on the verge of signing Ezri Konsa from the Villans, having agreed a £51million move for the 28-year-old.

As a result, Konsa is expected to undergo a medical in north London on Thursday, ahead of penning terms with his new club. However, the club face a 12pm deadline on Thursday to register him in time for a place in the squad against Coventry City on Friday.

Arsenal are in need of defensive reinforcement for the start of the season, with William Saliba set for an extended period on the sidelines as a result of a back injury.

While it seems as though they have found exactly that in Konsa, it is also thought that the Englishman could challenge his French counterpart for a place in Mikel Arteta's first-team when Saliba is fully fit.

As for Villa, club executives have reportedly sourced Tosin Adarabioyo as a successor to the outgoing Konsa.

Sky Sports report that the club are weighing up a number of options at present, with the Chelsea talent landing as one of them.

FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page

The 28-year-old has struggled to make a mark with the Blues since his arrival from Fulham in 2024, and with Xabi Alonso well-stocked in defence, it appears as though he could be on the move ahead of the September 1 deadline.

Should they seal a deal for the Paddington-born defender, then both he and Konsa could feature in a Premier League clash between Aston Villa and Arsenal in the Midlands later this month.

The two are set to meet at Villa Park on Monday, August 31. Both clubs will aim to kickstart their season this weekend with hopes of reliving last year's success.

Arsenal clinched their first Premier League title in over two decades in May following a highly-impressive season featuring a defensive masterclass.

Villa, meanwhile, clinched the Europa League title and managed a fourth-place finish in the English top flight - their best effort since 2023/24.

With a new campaign fast approaching Arsenal are set to take on Premier League new boys Coventry on home turf come Friday, August 21.

Villa's opener, meanwhile, comes against Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium on Sunday, August 23.