Arsenal reportedly preparing offer for Ezri Konsa as Saliba faces injury assessment

By Rohan Gupta — 18 July 2026 — 4 min read

Arsenal’s Defensive Considerations Amidst Saliba’s Injury

Arsenal are 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 discussions continue between Arsenal and Morgan Rogers’ representatives, as well as Aston Villa, regarding the player.

Meanwhile, Arsenal is set to assess defender William Saliba’s back injury upon his return to the club following his World Cup duties. Saliba has been dealing with a back issue for several weeks, a problem he carried into the World Cup. The injury seemingly worsened during France’s semi-final match against Spain, where he was substituted after approximately 30 minutes of play.

Upon his return to London, surgery is one of the options that Arsenal will consider for Saliba. An operation would likely necessitate a prolonged recovery period. Last season, the 25-year-old made 50 appearances across all competitions for Arsenal, a season in which the club ended a 22-year wait to secure the Premier League title and reached the Champions League final.

Earlier in the World Cup, Saliba mentioned experiencing minor niggles for several months, stating he had been enduring them due to the importance of the Champions League, the Premier League, and the quadrennial nature of the World Cup. He missed France’s final group stage match against Norway but returned for the knockout stages. France is scheduled to play England in the third-place play-off match on Saturday.

Transfer Market Activity and Expert Opinions

Former France international Frank Leboeuf has suggested that Arsenal should consider acquiring a replacement for the injured William Saliba, identifying a fellow countryman as a potential solution. Leboeuf highlighted Saliba’s importance to Arsenal’s defensive structure, which he views as fundamental to manager Mikel Arteta’s strategy. He noted that a long absence for Saliba would pose a significant challenge to the team’s stability, especially if reports of a potential four to five-month lay-off are accurate.

Leboeuf emphasised the need for Arsenal to secure cover, whether through a permanent transfer or a loan, to maintain their title aspirations. He stated that a club aiming for the title cannot afford to start a season without a high-level solution in such a critical position.

While Arsenal has shown interest in Ezri Konsa, another player who could be an option for Mikel Arteta is Maxence Lacroix, an international teammate of Saliba’s. Lacroix has reportedly had two strong seasons at Crystal Palace since joining in 2024 and is believed to be seeking a new challenge. Chelsea has reportedly identified Lacroix as a key transfer target, with reports suggesting Crystal Palace values him at up to £60m.

Leboeuf expressed his admiration for Lacroix, acknowledging his experience and defensive capabilities. He raised the question of whether Lacroix is at the required level for an Arsenal team competing for the title, stressing the need for a player who can immediately perform at a high level without a lengthy adaptation period. He noted that Lacroix’s familiarity with the Premier League and its pace would be beneficial, provided the transfer fee and fit align with Arteta’s requirements alongside Gabriel Magalhães.

Other Transfer Speculations and Managerial News

Beyond Arsenal’s activities, Aston Villa is also exploring the market for wingers, with players like Crysencio Summerville from West Ham and Ibrahim Mbaye from PSG reportedly on their radar. In other transfer news, Ipswich Town’s bid of £2.5million for FC Volendam goalkeeper Kayne van Oevelen was rejected.

Hull is reportedly set to sign Olympiacos’ Konstantis Tzolakis as a replacement for Ivor Pandur in goal. In Scottish football, Celtic reportedly missed out on re-signing Kelechi Iheanacho due to his wage demands and are now looking to increase their interest in Egypt’s World Cup winger Haissem Hassan.

In managerial news, the appointment of Thomas Tuchel as England head coach in 2024 did not receive unanimous support from FA board members, with some believing the role should have gone to an English candidate. Liverpool winger Rio Ngumoha is reportedly being considered for Thomas Tuchel’s squad next season as England prepares for Euro 2028. Sir Gareth Southgate is expected to attend Sunday’s World Cup final.

Source: skysports.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter