Arsenal have rekindled their pursuit of Aston Villa central defender Ezri Konsa, with the Premier League champions accelerating their efforts to bolster their backline following the successful capture of Bruno Guimaraes from Newcastle.

Konsa, 28, is currently on holiday after the World Cup and was absent from the Villa squad for Wednesday's Super Cup fixture against Paris Saint-Germain. His availability for the club's early pre-season commitments reflects the length of his international exertions.

The valuation gap

Arsenal's initial approach for the England international fell flat during the summer window — the Gunners were prepared to spend approximately £30 million, a figure that fell well short of Aston Villa's £60 million asking price. The two clubs remain far apart on that valuation, and Arsenal accept they must substantially raise their offer if they are to have any realistic chance of landing Konsa.

Whether Aston Villa will entertain any bid below their stated valuation is another matter entirely. The 28-year-old made 48 appearances across all competitions last season — including the Europa League triumph — and his versatility makes him a prized asset, both for Villa and, evidently, for those at the Emirates Stadium.

Romero enquiry raises eyebrows

Arsenal's defensive ambitions extend beyond Konsa. Multiple sources have informed BBC Sport that the Gunners have also held exploratory talks with Tottenham regarding a potential move for club captain Cristian Romero — a deal that would rank among the most extraordinary transfers of the summer window.

Tottenham are widely understood to have no desire to sell the Argentine centre-back to their fiercest rivals. The north London derby between these clubs makes any such deal deeply contentious, and Spurs' position on an internal sale to Arsenal appears firm.

Romero, 28, was sidelined by a knee injury sustained against Sunderland in April, which ended his domestic season prematurely. He recovered sufficiently to feature for Argentina at the World Cup, starting the final — a defeat to Spain — and playing 70 minutes of that match. His return to fitness has not gone unnoticed by Arsenal's recruitment team.