Exclusive: Arsenal in contact with Cristian Romero and Ezri Konsa

Exclusive

Steve Kay | Editor

Arsenal sporting director Andrea Berta is in contact with the representatives of Cristian Romero and Ezri Konsa, FootballTransfers has been told.

The Gunners are eager to sign a new central defender before the summer transfer window ends on 1 September, and we understand that Romero and Konsa are both on the club’s radar as they ramp up their bid to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of the 2026-27 season.

Arsenal currently have three specialist centre-backs on their books - Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera - while full-backs Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Riccardo Calafiori and Piero Hincapie all have extensive experience in the middle of a back four too.

However, the north London giants remain eager to sign another option as they look to defend their Premier League crown, and FootballTransfers has been informed that Romero and Konsa have been earmarked as possible signings.

Romero, 28, has been heavily linked with a Tottenham Hotspur exit in recent weeks and La Liga giants Atletico Madrid and Barcelona are both keeping tabs on his situation, with the former in particular keen to sign him ahead of the new campaign.

Despite this, we have been told that Romero is open to crossing the north London divide in order to complete a move to Arsenal this summer, although Spurs are understandably extremely reluctant to strengthen their rivals and a transfer would rely on the Argentina defender explicitly informing the club of his desire to join Arteta’s side.

Meanwhile, Konsa has been on Arsenal’s radar for several months as a result of his impressive form for Aston Villa. It has been reported that an opening bid has been rejected by Villa, but Arsenal are ready to return to the negotiating table with a fresh offer.

FootballTransfers has been told that Berta is in strong contact with the representatives of both Romero and Konsa as Arsenal look to ramp up their pursuit of a new centre-back following the signing of Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. However, a deal for either player has not yet been finalised.

Who have Arsenal signed so far this summer?

In addition to Guimaraes, who formally completed his €87.5 million move from Newcastle on Saturday, Arsenal have also signed Hincapie on a permanent deal, following a loan spell last season, Christos Tzolis and Illan Meslier so far this summer.

Tzolis has arrived as a replacement for Leandro Trossard, who has joined Besiktas, while Meslier is expected to be the club’s new third-choice goalkeeper after joining from Leeds United on a Bosman deal.

Arsenal have also been linked with a sensational move for Vinicius Junior, but he has opted to sign a lucrative contract extension at Real Madrid instead of moving to the Emirates Stadium this summer.