Arsenal have held fresh talks with Aston Villa over a deal to sign defender Ezri Konsa this summer.

The Gunners have had a strong summer window since winning the Premier League title last season, bringing in Illan Meslier as cover in goal, Christos Tzolis to replace Leandro Trossard in attack, and Brazil star Bruno Guimaraes to bolster their midfield options in a £75m deal from Newcastle.

But the north London outfit are still keen to add to their defensive line after William Saliba was ruled out for an extended period of time due to a back problem that was exacerbated at the World Cup.

Ezri Konsa is Arteta’s Preferred Target

David Butler / IMAGN Images via Reuters

Konsa, who was one of the standout performers for England at the World Cup this summer, has emerged as manager Mikel Arteta’s preferred target to bolster the defence this summer, according to BBC Sport.

The 28-year-old was the subject of a bid worth around £30m earlier in the window from Arsenal, but that number fell way short of Aston Villa’s valuation, which is understood to be at around £60m. So far, Villa have shown zero indication that they would be willing to sell the defender for anything less.

Unai Emery’s squad has already seen some major exits in this window, with Lucas Digne joining Paris Saint-Germain, Youri Tielemans joining Man Utd, and Morgan Rogers joining Chelsea, while midfielder Amadou Onana has suffered a serious knee injury and is expected to miss the majority of the season.

But Arsenal have now intimated that they will be willing to increase their previous offer, although there remains a significant gap in valuation between the clubs.

Arsenal were also keen on a shock deal to sign Tottenham captain Cristian Romero, but Spurs were adamant they would not sell to their rivals, and he is now on the verge of a move to join Spanish side Atletico Madrid instead.

Photo courtesy of Reuters.

While Konsa has established himself as a key player for Villa in recent seasons, he has also emerged as a key member of Thomas Tuchel’s England squad too.

His status in the game has risen massively over the last two years in particular, and former teammate Morgan Rogers believes he’s now among the best in the world in his position.

“I think he’s one of the best centre-backs in football, if I’m honest, I think at this World Cup,” he said.

“Honestly, I don’t know a flaw in his game, and I think that’s helped Villa that probably a bigger club has not taken him in the last few years. I think that’s helped us, because I honestly don’t know a problem in his game, really.

“It’s nice that he gets the recognition and he can compete on the world stage, and everyone can see how good he actually is. I think he does go under the radar massively and in these conversations of the best centre-backs, he is right up there.”

Statistics courtesy of WhoScored – correct as of 13/08/2026.

Manchester United have made an enquiry regarding Monaco ace Lamine Camara as they look to sign a third midfielder this summer, according to Foot Mercato.

Keen to build on a strong second half of the season under Michael Carrick, the Red Devils have been active in the transfer market and have so far concluded deals for midfielders Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans.

Experienced goalkeeper Karl Darlow has also signed, with youngsters Kit Margetson, Cristian Orozco and Tynan Thompson similarly penning contracts at Old Trafford.

United aren’t finished in the transfer market just yet and all eyes will be on them to see who they bring in before the summer window closes for business at 11pm on September 1.

According to French outlet Foot Mercato, United are one of five Premier League clubs keen on signing Camara after his standout showings for Monaco since his move from Metz in 2024.

Already receiving an official offer from Crystal Palace that has been rejected and Nottingham Forest ready to move, the Red Devils, Liverpool and Chelsea are also interested in the Senegal international.

Monaco are expecting a very busy end to the transfer window when it comes to their star player given the interest from England and the door is not closed on a potential exit if a suitable offer arrives.

Monaco boss Filipe Luis stated he is hopeful that “top class” Camara will stay at the club this summer when speaking after his side’s 3-2 pre-season friendly win over Liverpool last Sunday.

“We are probably talking about one of the best midfielders in the world,” the former Chelsea defender told Monaco’s official website. “I don’t want to talk about him too much, because I know a lot of clubs would love to have him in their squad, and he is very important to me.

“He has that quality on the ball, covers a lot of ground, he is truly top class! I am really happy to have him, and he is going to play a key role in the team.

“Keeping him? I am very hopeful he will stay. I think he is happy in Monaco. So if he stays, he can play a key role in my game plan.”

Camara Champions League ready

Lamine Camara Champions League numbers

2024/25

• Appearances: 9
• Starts: 9
• Minutes played: 610
• Yellow cards: 2

2025/26

• Appearances: 6
• Starts: 6
• Minutes played: 516
• Yellow cards: 2

When it comes to a third midfield signing for the 2026/27 season, United are looking to sign an experienced player capable of playing in a deeper role who can make an impact in the Champions League.

Camara may not be as experienced as some after playing 134 senior games, but he can play deeper and he does have Champions League experience.

In his two seasons with AS Monaco, the 22-year-old has 15 appearances to his name in the competition.

During the 2024/25 campaign, Camara made nine appearances and had the opportunity to test himself against the likes of Barcelona, Inter Milan and Arsenal.

He featured in six games in the competition last term, including against Juventus and PSG, but injury ruled him out against Man City and Tottenham, and then he was on AFCON duty with Senegal for their 6-1 defeat at Real Madrid.

Former Chelsea physio Eva Carneiro has hit out at Jose Mourinho and John Terry following comments made about her in the three-part Netflix docu-series, MOURINHO.

Carneiro and Mourinho were involved in a highly publicized dispute that began in 2015 during Chelsea’s Premier League clash with Swansea City. In that season’s opener, Eden Hazard went down injured in the dying embers of the game and referee Michael Oliver waved for medical staff to attend to the Belgian winger.

The Gibraltarian doctor and chief physiotherapist Jon Fearn entered the pitch and treated Hazard. This forced the Blues’ star man to leave the field before play could resume but the hosts were already down to 10 men following Thibaut Courtois’ sending off.

This meant Mourinho’s troops would have to see the game, which finished 2-2, out with just nine players and it inevitably left the Portuguese coach fuming. He vented his frustrations at Carneiro, with footage appearing to show him directing profanities in Portuguese at the physio once she returned to the bench.

Mourinho and Terry Recall Carneiro Clash

Carneiro and Mourinho’s relationship soured and eventually she was stripped of matchday and first-team duties, banned from training and staying in the team hotel. A few weeks later, she officially parted ways with the Premier League club but that wasn’t the last of a lengthy ordeal.

The 52-year-old launched legal proceedings against Chelsea, claiming she was forced to resign, while making a claim against Mourinho for sex discrimination and harassment. An employment tribunal took place in June 2016 and the club issued an apology as the backlash against the West London outfit and their manager heightened.

Mourinho recalled his falling out with Carneiro in his new Netflix docu-series and he explained why he approached the situation with such anger:

“For me, a lady doctor is the same as a man’s doctor. So, as always, I use my vocabulary when I’m not happy. There are words in moments where the tension is very, very high. Normally, people with football culture, with football DNA, with football background, they go over it in one second. In that case, it was different.”

The newly-appointed Real Madrid boss added that he knew ‘when a player is not injured’ and that he knew Hazard ‘was not injured.’ His former Chelsea captain Terry defended him when interviewed for the docu-series:

“Medically, he would say unless it’s really, really bad, then they’re [the team doctors] not coming on. That was the understanding for us as players; the medical staff, everyone bought into that. It was a big moment obviously and he took a lot of backlash for that. There was a lot of heat on the football club.”

After the tribunal, Carneiro reached a confidential financial settlement with the club but she has now spoken out following the docu-series. She has condemned Mourinho and Terry’s assessments of the incident and advised them to ‘learn the rules of the game’.

Carneiro Fires Back at Ex-Chelsea Duo

Reuters / Andrew Couldridge

Carneiro’s first post on X lifted the lid on how she felt at the time and how she’s having to relive the incident again. She posted a picture of herself on the bench with the caption: “11 years on and here we are reliving the worst. Hope they made some money.”

The sports physician took umbrage with Terry’s comments, writing: “We are bound by a medico-legal code of conduct. Genuinely it would be healthy for John Terry to learn the rules of the game. It’s been long enough mate.”

Carneiro then posted a screenshot of rules stated by the Faculty of Sport and Exercise Medicine UK and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine. She delved into the incident and defended her role as a medical professional:

“So IT IS really simple. Referee Michael Oliver called us on TWICE, player Eden Hazard requested medical assistance we then made eye contact from side line and he confirmed he needed medical assistance, TWICE. At that point my hands are bound as a medical professional.”

Carneiro has looked to put the bust-up with Mourinho behind her, venturing into private medical practice, which includes practicing at private facilities, including in Harley Street, London. She also worked as a consultant at the 2022 World Cup and continues to be involved in football as a co-owner of Lewes FC, the first professional club to pay men and women equally.