Arsenal contacted Atletico Madrid in recent days to discuss a potential move for Spanish defender Marc Pubill before pivoting to reach a verbal agreement with Aston Villa for Ezri Konsa, according to a report by Fabrizio Romano.
Arsenal turn to Konsa after Pubill rejection
As first reported by Fabrizio Romano on GiveMeSport, the Gunners made formal enquiries regarding the availability of the 23-year-old Atletico Madrid defender. However, the Spanish club immediately informed Arsenal that Pubill was not for sale under any circumstances. Following this swift rejection, Arsenal moved rapidly to secure a verbal agreement with Aston Villa to sign England international Ezri Konsa in a deal worth £50m plus add-ons.
Speaking on the development, Romano confirmed: "They also called Atletico Madrid in recent days for Marc Pubill, but the player was not for sale, and so Arsenal closed the deal for Konsa."
Defensive depth tested by Saliba injury
Arsenal's sudden late market activity stems from a defensive crisis, with key centre-back William Saliba facing an extended spell on the sidelines due to a serious back injury. Pubill, who joined Atletico Madrid last summer and made 36 La Liga appearances last season, was identified as an ideal target due to his tactical adaptability across the defensive line.
Atletico manager Diego Simeone has previously praised Pubill's willingness to adapt, highlighting his conversion to centre-back. Simeone noted that the defender has "remained patient, continued working in that position where we've spent countless mornings trying to improve." Despite Arsenal's interest, Atletico's firm stance forced Mikel Arteta's side to look domestically, ultimately resulting in the agreed £50m package for Villa's Konsa.
