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Arsenal know how close Ezri Konsa signing is as Aston Villa demands set Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa is a transfer target for Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, with the Premier League champions looking to bridge the gap between their valuation and his parent club's price-tag Aston Villa will demand £20million more than Arsenal's original £40million valuation of Ezri Konsa if they want to sign the England international. The Villa defender is a primary target for the Gunners who are looking to bolster the heart of their defence and the left-hand side of their attack. Konsa is the second Villa star that Arteta has had his eye on this summer, having planned a move for Morgan Rogers, only for Chelsea to swoop in and sign the playmaker. As things stand, Unai Emery's side have set a £60m asking price for 28-year-old Konsa, who has excelled since Emery took charge of the club. As things stand, Arsenal have only bee willing to offer a transfer fee in the region of £40m, according to The Athletic and will need to up their offer. Arsenal's initial offer to Villa arrived earlier this summer, but fell insultingly below their financial demands. Konsa featured in every England match at the World Cup, having made 48 appearances across all competitions last season. His ability to operate both in central defence and at right-back makes him a particularly attractive prospect for Arteta, especially given the injury concerns surrounding Jurrien Timber and William Saliba. Villa are in no position to sell Konsa unless a huge offer arrives, having already sold Rogers, Youri Tielemans and Lucas Digne. The club have signed Joao Gomes, Johan Manzambi and Alejandro Garnacho and are on the verge of signing Matteo Ruggeri in an attempt to vill the gaps left in the squad by those outgoing stars. Emery has already expressed his excitement with how the club are building ahead of the upcoming campaign. He said: "I am really optimistic about how we are building the team and how we are responding every day despite so many changes. "I want to tell all our supporters that we are coming back again with a new spirit and a new chapter that we will write this year. Really, I am excited!"