Arsenal have revived their pursuit of Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa as the Premier League champions look to strengthen their backline before the summer transfer window closes.
The 28-year-old England international remains on holiday following the World Cup and did not travel with the Villa squad for their Super Cup fixture against Paris St-Germain on Wednesday, a scheduling detail that has done little to dampen speculation over his future.
Arsenal made an initial approach for Konsa earlier in the summer, but that move stalled after the two clubs failed to agree on a valuation. The Gunners were prepared to pay around £30m, well short of the £60m price tag Villa have placed on their defender. Now, having wrapped up the signing of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle United, Arsenal have shifted their focus toward bolstering the defensive department and are said to be intensifying their efforts to bring Konsa to the Emirates.
Part of the appeal for Arsenal lies in Konsa's flexibility across the back line, a trait that is understood to be highly valued by the club's recruitment staff. Konsa enjoyed a productive campaign last season, featuring in 48 matches across all competitions for Aston Villa and playing a role in the club's Europa League triumph.
Despite the renewed interest, Arsenal are aware that a significantly improved offer will likely be required if they are to convince Villa to sanction a sale. It remains uncertain whether Villa would be willing to part with Konsa for anything below their stated valuation, particularly given his importance to the squad following last season's European success.
In a separate and more eye-catching development, Arsenal have also made contact with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur regarding a possible deal for club captain Cristian Romero. According to multiple sources, the Gunners have held exploratory discussions about the Argentine centre-back, though Spurs are understood to have no appetite for selling one of their key defenders to a fierce domestic rival.
The fierce nature of the north London derby rivalry makes such a transfer appear highly unlikely to be sanctioned by Tottenham, but that has not stopped Arsenal from probing the possibility. A move for Romero, should it ever gain traction, would rank among the most unexpected transfers of the entire summer window given the historical animosity between the two clubs.
Romero, also 28, endured a difficult end to last season after suffering a knee injury in a match against Sunderland in April, which sidelined him for the remainder of the domestic campaign. He recovered in time to feature prominently for Argentina at the World Cup, playing a full role in his country's run to the final, including 70 minutes in the defeat to Spain in the championship match.
With Arsenal seemingly intent on reshaping their defensive options this summer, attention will now turn to how Aston Villa and Tottenham respond to renewed and new interest respectively. Villa's resolve over Konsa's valuation will be tested as the transfer window progresses, while Spurs are expected to hold firm on any suggestion of selling their captain to a direct rival.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.