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.

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.

Manchester United have made contact over a deal to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Ibrahim Mbaye as they look to bolster their attack.

The Reds are in the market to improve their forward line further after they reached the Champions League for the first time since 2023, with Michael Carrick enjoying a strong pre-season despite question marks over the futures of Joshua Zirkzee and Marcus Rashford.

But the club are still keen to make more additions, despite spending over £200m last summer to bring in Benjamin Sesko, Bryan Mbeumo, and Matheus Cunha, and the Senegalese forward has now emerged as a potential option.

According to a report by AS, United are understood to have made a formal enquiry to Paris Saint-Germain about a deal to bring Mbaye to Old Trafford.

The teenager, who has been described as a ‘phenomenon’, is expected to leave Paris this summer after growing frustrated at a lack of first-team football opportunities under Luis Enrique, with the likes of Ousmane Dembele, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Desire Doue, Bradley Barcola, and new signing Maghnes Akliouche all ahead of him in the pecking order.

It’s reported that PSG are demanding in excess of €50m (£42m) for the Senegal star, but with his contract due to expire in 2028, there may be room for negotiation.

Carrick’s side are understood to be looking at a number of positions before the transfer window closes. A new left-back is reportedly high up on their list of priorities, while a new central midfielder is also believed to be under consideration alongside a new forward.

So far under Carrick, Man Utd have used Patrick Dorgu as a left-winger regularly, rather than as a left-back, but a move for Mbaye would undoubtedly be a big upgrade in that position.

Mbaye a Huge Dorgu Upgrade

REUTERS/Benoit Tessier

Dorgu’s best performances in a Man Utd shirt have come while playing in a more advanced position, but it’s quite evident that he has a lot of learning to do in that role if he wants to become a regular starter.

But with a left-back needed, a move to bring in Mbaye would allow him to move back to his more natural role, and bring in a truly exciting talent in attack who could provide quality depth and competition alongside the current forward options.

Mbaye has blistering pace, excellent trickery, but is also a great ball striker and has great creativity. With Champions League football to come, and a busier schedule, this could be a top signing for the squad and a shrewd bit of business for the club.

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