Aston Villa immediately identify surprise Ezri Konsa replacement after Arsenal strike £50m agreement

Ezri Konsa is closing in on a move to Arsenal, with Aston Villa already identifying a replacement for their star defender.

Seven years after joining Villa in a £12 million deal from Brentford, Konsa is set to wave goodbye to a place where he blossomed into an England international.

It was reported on Wednesday that the Gunners have agreed a £50m transfer plus add-ons for the 28-year-old, who is set to undergo his medical on Thursday before completing his switch to the Emirates Stadium.

Konsa has been on Mikel Arteta's radar all summer, but the Premier League champions initially fell short of reaching an agreement until their latest package was accepted.

In a memorable 2025/26 campaign, Konsa featured 48 times in all competitions for Unai Emery, helping Villa win the Europa League title and qualify for the Champions League with a fourth-place finish in the Premier League.

The ball-playing defender will leave a gaping hole in the heart of the Spaniard's defence, and the recruitment team are wasting no time identifying a possible replacement.

According to Sky Sports, Aston Villa have shown an interest in Chelsea centre-back Tosin Adarabioyo as one of the 'few options' they're considering to succeed their defensive stalwart.

Chelsea are ready to listen to offers for Tosin, who has been training in the secondary group of players at Cobham who have been told they can leave Stamford Bridge.

Formerly of Manchester City and Fulham, Tosin has made 70 appearances for the Blues, scoring seven times, since joining on a free transfer in 2024.

But with Levi Colwill, Wesley Fofana, Jorrel Hato and new signing Maxence Lacroix all ahead of him in the pecking order, there's no surprise that a departure is on the horizon.

The 28-year-old, who has two years left to run on his contract, also has interest from European sides Marseille, Benfica and Sevilla, with Villa now joining the race for his signature.

What Tosin Adarabioyo would bring to Aston Villa

Naturally, Villa fans will feel underwhelmed by links to Tosin. The towering centre-back only featured 16 times in the Premier League last term as Chelsea finished in a disappointing 10th position.

However, the Englishman would bring some sought-after attributes to Emery's back line, none more so than his aerial ability — a useful attribute in both boxes.

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Tosin's seven goals for Chelsea showcase his goal threat and ability to dominate in the air, while his 6ft5 frame is also incredibly handy for defending set pieces.

Villa conceded 15 goals from those situations in England's top flight last season, ranking them as the eighth-worst in that department, and Tosin could certainly help improve that statistic if he joins.

The towering defender ranked in the top four per cent of Premier League players for aerial duels won per 90 and the top 13 per cent for defensive contributions, as per FotMob.

Tosin is also surprisingly cultured and comfortable on the ball, something Villa fans associated with Konsa. He placed in the top three per cent for successful passes last term and the top 17 per cent for big chances created — pretty impressive for a centre-back.

Depending on how much Chelsea are willing to receive to sell a player they signed on a free transfer two years ago, Tosin could be a cost-effective replacement that suits all parties as Alonso aims to trim down his squad.