Arsenal remain interested in Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa, although the Midlands club’s reported £60 million valuation is currently viewed as a stumbling block. The report, by CaughtOffside, also claims the England international would be interested in a move to the Emirates, while Liverpool are also monitoring his situation.
Arsenal continue their interest in Como defender Jacobo Ramón, with reports suggesting the Gunners are preparing an offer despite the Serie A side’s reluctance to sell. The 21-year-old is also believed to be open to making the switch to north London.
Arsenal keeping multiple defensive options open
Rather than focusing on a single target, the latest claims suggest Arsenal are continuing to assess several centre-back options as they prepare for the possibility of being without Saliba for an extended period.
Alongside Konsa and Ramón, Arsenal have also been linked to former Gunner Konstantinos Mavropanos as another player under consideration, although this report suggests the West Ham defender would represent a lower-cost alternative.
With Arsenal expected to compete on multiple fronts again this season, adding another central defender has become an increasingly important priority.
Experience versus potential?
The links to Konsa and Ramón present Arsenal with two very different profiles.
Konsa, now 28, is a proven Premier League defender and England international who could slot into Arteta’s side with minimal adaptation. His versatility, leadership and experience at the highest level would make him an immediate option should Saliba’s absence extend into the season. The downside, however, is the reported £60 million asking price, which represents a significant investment for a player approaching his peak years.
Ramón, meanwhile, would represent more of a long-term project. At just 21, the Spanish defender has impressed in Serie A since joining Como and appears to fit Arsenal’s recent recruitment strategy of identifying young players capable of developing into elite talents. While he may not be ready to replace Saliba immediately, his ceiling could make him an attractive investment if Arsenal believe he can develop under Arteta’s coaching.
Ultimately, the decision may come down to whether Arsenal prioritise immediate reliability or future potential as they continue to reshape their squad.
With the transfer window still open and Saliba’s recovery timeline remaining a key factor, it would be no surprise if Arsenal continued exploring both avenues before making a final decision.
What would you prefer? Should Arsenal spend big on the proven Premier League quality of Ezri Konsa, or invest in the long-term potential of Jacobo Ramón? Or should we be looking at someone else entirely? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
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Why panic buy, except and if an only if Timber’s withdrawal from Spain was an injury. If not, this would be an opportunity for some of the young players to showcase what they are capable of. Look at what Haven boy is doing at Manchester United. Could this be the reason why our young prospects are leaving Arsenal?
I will thrown in the Unused dane norgaard as emergency cb and use Solomon sparingly for exposure. Using mosquera to further expose his minutes. Rotating white and hincapie in the Cb will be idle for fitness
Why would any established central defender join Arsenal knowing that they’re only a stand in for Saliba?
I’ve said before that we don’t need any CB signing. What have we got Mosquera for? We have White and Timber who are all CBs. Can’t 3 of them cover the 2 positions for a few months? Imagine signing Konsa for £60m only to play him for 3 months and he goes to the bench once Saliba returns
I’d prefer a young right back personally. It solves two problems- you get a long term replacement for White while allowing White/Timber to fill in for Saliba at CB until he returns.