Arsenal have pulled out of the chase for 28-year-old Aston Villa defender and England international Ezri Konsa, ceding ground to Liverpool.
Both the Merseyside and London clubs are on the lookout for defensive reinforcements as the transfer window approaches its closing stages. Arsenal are feeling the pinch following a long-term back injury to central defender William Saliba, while Liverpool face their own selection woes with injuries to Conor Bradley, Joe Gomez, and Giovanni Leialo.
Financial disagreements
According to reports from The Guardian, the primary hurdle for the Gunners in securing a deal lies in the pricing set by the Birmingham club.
The asking price from Villa: Aston Villa have slapped a £60 million valuation on the defender.
Arsenal’s stance: The Gunners' hierarchy identified the fee as excessive, especially with less than two years remaining on Konsa's contract.
Alternatives for Liverpool: Reds boss Andoni Iraola has requested a versatile defender capable of playing both centrally and on the right. Besides Konsa, Liverpool are also considering a move for Jed Spence from Tottenham.
