{"id":258390,"date":"2026-08-17T18:10:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-17T18:10:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/after-suzuki-aston-villa-could-sign-their-new-ezri-konsa\/"},"modified":"2026-08-17T18:10:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-17T18:10:14","slug":"after-suzuki-aston-villa-could-sign-their-new-ezri-konsa","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/08\/17\/after-suzuki-aston-villa-could-sign-their-new-ezri-konsa\/","title":{"rendered":"After Suzuki: Aston Villa could sign their new Ezri Konsa"},"content":{"rendered":"

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It’s all going on at Aston Villa<\/a>. An agreement with Parma has been reached to sign Parma goalkeeper Zion Suzuki, who will sign for around \u00a330m – regardless of Emi Martinez’s future.<\/p>\n

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The 23-year-old Japan international impressed at this summer’s World Cup, and a deal will go ahead, even though Emi Martinez<\/a>‘s proposed transfer to Juventus has fallen through. Yet again, the Argentina shot-stopper has been left in limbo after seeking a way out of Villa Park.<\/p>\n

It’s been a summer of change for Unai Emery<\/a> and his outfit, who celebrated Europa League triumph in May and have secured passage back into the Champions League<\/a>, but have been hit by any number of setbacks throughout summer.<\/p>\n

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The record-breaking sale of Morgan Rogers<\/a> to Chelsea has been the big one, while Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne has left too, stripping this title-winning outfit of their experience and grit.<\/p>\n

It’s not done yet. Arsenal are on the hunt for a defender to replace the injury William Saliba, and they’ve set their sights on Ezri Konsa<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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\n Why Aston Villa might sell Ezri Konsa<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

Konsa is one of the most experienced members of Emery’s Aston Villa squad. He has been a mainstay from the get-go, and his defensive expertise and cool-headed passing landed him a starring role with England at the World Cup.<\/p>\n

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Unai Emery’s Most-used Aston Villa Players<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n

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Player<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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Apps<\/p>\n<\/th>\n

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Goals + Assists<\/p>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n

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Ollie Watkins<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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188<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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79 + 39<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Ezri Konsa<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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174<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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6 + 2<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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John McGinn<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

169<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

\n

24 + 26<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

\n

Emi Martinez<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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167<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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0 + 1<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n

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Lucas Digne<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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157<\/p>\n<\/td>\n

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3 + 20<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table><\/div>\n

But the 28-year-old has entered the penultimate year of his contract in the Midlands, and as reports suggest that the Gunners are closing in on a move for the England star, it’s hard to argue against the move, should Villa’s \u00a360m valuation be met<\/a>.<\/p>\n

In the Premier League last season, Konsa won 73% of his ground battles and completed 95% of his passes. Replacing him won’t be easy, for his defensive presence has been critical to the success of Emery’s project in recent years.<\/p>\n

Aston Villa are pretty well stocked in defence, but they would lose some of their ball-winning essence through the sale of Konsa. To replace him, Emery might need to think outside the box.<\/p>\n

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\n How Aston Villa plan on replacing Konsa’s qualities this summer<\/strong>
\n <\/h2>\n

If Konsa leaves, Aston Villa will need to draft in a talented new centre-back, but they may also need to pursue a player of a certain likeness, ensuring Emery’s system maintains the sharp defensive edge that has allowed them to power past so many opponents in recent years.<\/p>\n

That player could come in the form of Aaron Wan-Bissaka. According to the Daily Mail’s Tom Collomosse<\/a>, an offer is expected “this week” for the West Ham United right-back, who is itching to leave east London now that the Irons are down into the Championship. West Ham are expected to demand \u00a325m for his signature.<\/p>\n

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\n \"aaron-wan-bissaka-west-ham\"\n <\/picture>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n

Wan-Bissaka, 28, isn’t coming off the back of his finest season, but he was stuck in a wider malaise at West Ham that sent the club spiralling down, and he has a wealth of previous experience that illustrates his quality as a tough-tackling, cool-headed presence in the Premier League.<\/p>\n

The right-back would not arrive at Villa Park as a like-for-like Konsa replacement, but would instead instil the kind of composure that Aston. Villa would lose if and when Konsa completes a transfer to the Emirates.<\/p>\n

Long regarded as “an absolute monster<\/a>” in defence, Wan-Bissaka also showed during the 2024\/25 Premier League season that he has variation to his game. He averaged 1.8 dribbles per game, with an impressive success rate of 60%.<\/p>\n

He proved less robust than usual for West Ham last term, but there’s no question that, like Konsa, he is one of the meanest one-vs-one defenders out there.<\/p>\n

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Like Konsa, the DR Congo international, who caught the eye against England at the World Cup, is probably a touch underrated. He is a Premier League mainstay, and though this wouldn’t be the most flashy of signings for Emery’s Aston Villa this summer, there’s no question that it could be a prudent move indeed – especially if Konsa leaves for Arsenal.<\/p>\n