Arsenal targeting £60m transfer for player Bukayo Saka called 'one of the best'

Arsenal are ramping up preparations for the defence of their Premier League title and the transfer window will play a major role.

The Gunners ended their 22-year wait for league title glory in May, as a final day victory over Crystal Palace sealed their long-awaited glory.

Celebrations died down once the World Cup started in mid-June, and Mikel Arteta has since been working hard behind-the-scenes to bring some of his dream targets to the Emirates.

Arsenal have been linked with Morocco sensation Ayyoub Bouaddi as a potential central midfield option, while PSG winger Bradley Barcola is firmly on their radar as a possible long-term replacement for Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.

A midfielder and winger are two priorities Arteta is looking to address, but the Spaniard could also bolster his defence with some Premier League-proven experience, and that explains their interest in Aston Villa's Ezri Konsa.

The Telegraph's Matt Law has revealed that Arsenal have identified Konsa as a versatile option who can play in central defence or at right back. As it stands, though, their interest is described as 'tentative', but it remains to be seen whether a bid is launched.

Arteta is behind reportedly behind the Gunners pursuit of the 28-year-old, who has two years left on his contract at Villa Park and is likely to be valued in the region of £60m.

Arsenal have already publicly displayed their admiration towards another Villa star in Morgan Rogers this summer, but it would take a British record £130m to prise him away from the Midlands.

Konsa, who has become one of the Premier League's best defenders in recent years, is clearly the more realistic of the two transfers and he would offer incredible attributes to an already watertight defence.

He recorded 95% successful passes per 90 in the league last term, the most of any player, and ranked in the top 14% for duels won, two statistics that demonstrate his excellent skillset.

Villa's No. 4 is currently displaying those qualities at the World Cup with England and has played every minute of their first four matches.

Bukayo Saka is a huge fan of Ezri Konsa

Should Arsenal press forward for Konsa, several of Arteta's stars would be happy if he signed, including Bukayo Saka.

The 24-year-old has become friends with the defender on England duty and has previously waxed lyrical over his talent, labelling him 'one of the best in the Premier League'.

“In some sessions, I do a little one-v-one with Ezri because, you know, for me, he is one of the best in the Premier League, defending one-v-one, so he improves me and it improves him as well. So, I enjoy coming up against him,” Saka said in 2024.

Konsa is widely recognised as one of the toughest players to come against in England's top-flight. In fact, he was dribbled past just four times across over 3,000 minutes of action last term.

It is therefore easy to see why Saka would rather play with rather than against him.