Arsenal considers offer for Ezri Konsa amid Willia...

By Priya Nair — 18 July 2026 — 3 min read

Arsenal is reportedly preparing an offer for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, who has not yet agreed to a new deal with his current club. This development comes as Arsenal continues discussions with Morgan Rogers‘ representatives and Aston Villa.

Meanwhile, William Saliba, a key defender for Arsenal, is facing a significant back injury. He will undergo assessment upon his return to the club after his World Cup duties. Saliba has been dealing with this back issue for several weeks, carrying it into the World Cup, where it appeared to worsen during France’s semi-final match against Spain.

Saliba’s Injury and Potential Replacements

During the semi-final, Saliba was forced off the field after approximately 30 minutes. Surgery is among the options being considered by Arsenal’s medical team when he returns to London. Such an operation would likely necessitate a prolonged recovery period.

Reports from France suggest that Saliba could miss between four and five months of the upcoming season. This potential absence would be a considerable setback for Arsenal, especially after he made 50 appearances across all competitions last season, contributing to their Premier League title win and their run to the Champions League final.

Former France player Frank Leboeuf has suggested that Arsenal should consider signing a replacement for the injured Saliba. He believes that a new defensive option is necessary, whether through a permanent transfer or a loan, to maintain the team’s stability and competitiveness for the title.

While Arsenal has shown interest in Ezri Konsa, another player who could be considered by Mikel Arteta is Maxence Lacroix, Saliba’s international teammate. Lacroix has played two seasons at Crystal Palace after joining in 2024 and is reportedly looking for a new challenge.

Chelsea has also identified Lacroix as a transfer target. Crystal Palace reportedly values Lacroix at up to £60m, with some reports indicating a demand of at least £55m for his services. Lacroix is said to be keen on leaving Crystal Palace.

Ongoing Transfer Discussions

Aston Villa, in turn, is actively exploring the market for wingers. Among the names reportedly on their radar are Crysencio Summerville from West Ham and Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG.

In other transfer news, Ipswich Town had a £2.5 million bid for FC Volendam goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen rejected. Hull is also expected to sign Konstantis Tzolakis from Olympiacos as a replacement for Ivor Pandur in goal.

Meanwhile, Celtic reportedly missed out on re-signing Kelechi Iheanacho due to an inability to meet his wage demands. However, Celtic is now prepared to increase their efforts to sign Egypt’s World Cup winger Haissem Hassan.

The World Cup final is scheduled for Sunday, and former England manager Sir Gareth Southgate is expected to attend.

England National Team Developments

The appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England head coach in 2024 did not receive unanimous support from the FA board members. Some members reportedly believed the position should have been filled by an English candidate, particularly someone with prior experience managing an international team.

Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha is being considered for inclusion in Thomas Tuchel’s squad for the upcoming season, as the England head coach aims to build a team capable of competing for Euro 2028. Tuchel has also privately refuted claims that he encouraged his England team to defend their lead against Argentina during their World Cup semi-final defeat.

A leading sports physiologist suggests that England’s players were severely fatigued during their match against Argentina. France is set to play England in the third-place play-off on Saturday at 22:00 BST.

In cricket, Justin Langer is believed to be a top candidate for the ECB’s shortlist for the men’s Test team coach, following Andy Flower’s withdrawal from consideration on Friday.