Arsenal still keen on transfer for England World Cup star Ezri Konsa despite being handed DOUBLE defensive injury boost

ARSENAL remain keen on a deal for Aston Villa defender Ezri Konsa – despite Ben White and Jurrien Timber handing them a double fitness boost. The Gunners want to bolster their backline for the new season as they look to defend their Premier League crown. Ezri Konsa is on Arsenal’s shortlist after being a regular for England at the World Cup Credit: Getty Konsa, 28, is a target and viewed as an ideal signing as he would provide competition and cover for William Saliba. John Stones is another player on Arsenal’s radar after his contract with Manchester City expired at the end of last month. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! The Gunners fear being without Saliba for an extended period after he aggravated a back injury at the World Cup. The Frenchman is undergoing further tests to decide whether the issue requires surgery to solve it. Konsa could step up in Saliba’s absence, while the England defender is also able to fill in at right-back. Arsenal have received better injury news in that area, though, as Timber and White eye a return to action. The duo suffered injuries toward the end of last season and both missed the World Cup. White, 28, injured the ligaments in his right knee in May and Timber was dogged by a groin problem from March onwards. Most read in Sport Best new sign-up offers SunSport exclusives The Dutchman played around an hour off the bench in the Champions League final on May 30, but pulled out of the Holland squad for the World Cup shortly after. Timber underwent a small procedure last month on his groin and the rehab is going well. The right-back was with the Arsenal squad in Marbella for a training camp last week and reported for the first day of pre-season on Monday. Timber said: “My summer was good, enjoyed it. “Getting there slowly, trying hard. I have been rehabbing during the summer. Hopefully I’ll be back soon.” White did not have to undergo surgery after his knee injury and, unlike Timber, is already back training with the team. The right-back spent the summer doing his rehab and worked at The Campus, a high-performance training facility in Portugal. Asked about his progress, White said in a video on Arsenal’s official social media account: “I’ve been training every day, really. The knee is all good.” Arsenal play their first pre-season game on August 1 at Girona, and the return to fitness of Timber and White would be a huge boost. Comment now