Arsenal are accelerating their interest in Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa.

Various sources have indicated there is some optimism an agreement for the England international to move to Emirates Stadium is possible.

Konsa is Arsenal‘s first-choice defensive target but so far the Premier League champions have not met Villa’s £60m valuation.

BBC Sport revealed last week that Arsenal had reopened talks with Villa over a deal for Konsa but still fell short of reaching an agreement.

The Gunners then appeared to pivot to Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah.

However, Arsenal have refocused their efforts on Konsa with a sense now the deal will get completed.

The 28-year-old, who joined the Villans in July 2019, has made 286 appearances over the past seven seasons.

Konsa featured 48 times last term in all competitions, scoring two goals and contributing one assist, as Unai Emery’s side lifted the Europa League and finished fourth in the Premier League to secure Champions League football for 2026-27.

Konsa has not featured at all during Aston Villa‘s pre‑season, including the 2‑1 defeat to Paris St‑Germain in the Uefa Super Cup, after Emery gave him four weeks off following the World Cup.

He played in every game of England’s World Cup run as the Three Lions finished third.

Speaking after the final warm‑up match against Borussia Monchengladbach, Emery explained the absence of Konsa, Emiliano Martinez and Ollie Watkins, saying: “They are joining us after this match.”

Usually, winning the Europa League and qualifying for the Champions League would leave a club in a position of strength.

However, Villa have been picked apart this summer to become a victim of the system they have been vocal against.

Ensuring they comply with Uefa and the Premier League’s financial rules led them to sell Morgan Rogers to Chelsea for a record £117m.

Even then, Youri Tielemans – who like Rogers scored in May’s Europa League win over Freiburg – was also sold to Manchester United.

Villa wanted to alter their left-back profile so Lucas Digne was allowed to join Paris St-Germain, with Atletico Madrid’s Matteo Ruggeri replacing him.

Now, though, there is still huge uncertainty over Villa’s squad just four days before they start the season at Brighton.

Villa face the prospect of losing the core of their squad by the end of the month with goalkeeper Martinez also set to leave.

Changes were expected, with an anticipation the squad would start to break up this summer – but Villa could undergo a transformation which would normally happen over two or three windows.

Skipper John McGinn was defiant last week when asked about changes, saying they still have the same structures and values which made them a success, and Villa still played well despite losing to PSG in the Super Cup.

But doubts over the squad remain.

Boss Emery squeezed everything he could out of them over the past two years and now Villa face a crucial two weeks before the end of the transfer window.