Ben White Exit Possible As Arsenal Chase Ezri Konsa To Fill William Saliba Void
Arsenal’s pursuit of Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa could have major consequences for Ben White, with Everton ready to pounce if the deal gets done.
Konsa has emerged as a priority target for Arsenal following a back injury suffered by first-choice centre-back William Saliba, sidelining him for an extended period.
The Villa man’s ability to play both centrally and at right-back makes him a particularly attractive option for manager Mikel Arteta as he searches for defensive cover.
That same versatility directly threatens White’s place in the squad, whose opportunities have already been affected by injuries and growing competition for places.
Arsenal made an opening approach for Konsa but saw it rejected, yet they remain determined to push through a deal before the transfer window slams shut.
According to Football Insider, Arsenal are willing to sanction White’s departure from the club if they successfully complete the signing of Konsa.
Everton are reportedly ready to move for the 28-year-old, with White understood to be open to joining the Merseyside club in search of more consistent first-team football.
Landing Konsa will not come cheap, with talkSPORT reporting that Arsenal’s verbal offer of around £35m was firmly rejected by Aston Villa, who value the England international at approximately £60m-£65m.
Konsa himself is understood to be interested in making the move to the Emirates Stadium, which could help push negotiations forward in the coming days.
Should Villa refuse to lower their valuation, Arsenal are also keeping an eye on alternatives, including Bayer Leverkusen’s Jarell Quansah and Como defender Jacobo Ramón.
From Arsenal’s standpoint, replacing White with Konsa would represent a significant defensive reshuffle rather than simply bolstering their options at the back.
White has been a reliable and versatile performer under Arteta, capable of covering both centre-back and right-back positions across his time at the club.
However, recurring fitness problems have limited his availability at crucial moments, and Arsenal now need a dependable option to cover for the injured Saliba.
Konsa would arrive as a proven Premier League operator, capable of slotting straight into the backline and easing the pressure created by Saliba’s absence.
The financial logic of the deal will be critical, as paying over £60m for Konsa while allowing White to leave for a modest fee would make little commercial sense for the club.
Arsenal should only consider approving White’s exit if Everton table a strong enough offer to meaningfully offset the cost of bringing Konsa in from Villa.
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