Arsenal are reportedly set to rival Tottenham in the pursuit of Charlton Athletic defender Ezri Konsa, a member of the England Under-20 World Cup winning squad.
Daily Mirror are claiming that Arsenal have emerged as the latest club to challenge Tottenham in the pursuit of Ezri Konsa. The Charlton Athletic defender has been tailed by a number of high-profile English clubs. However, it seems the two North London rivals are likely to battle it out to land the highly-rated youngster.
Ezri Konsa has developed through the ages at Charlton Athletic and is one of the most highly sought-after young English prospects. The youngster had a breakthrough campaign at the club this season, with as many as 39 senior appearances as Charlton finished steadily in the middle of the pack.
The 19-year-old’s versatility is his biggest asset at this age. Konsa plays predominantly at centre-back but is equally adept at playing on the right side of the defence while also being able to put in a more than decent shift in holding midfield.
The likes of Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool were all reportedly interested in the prospect. And, the 19-year-old, who was recently a member of the Three Lions’ Under-20 squad that triumphed in the Under-20 World Cup, would have increased the interest in his services after the tournament.
Arsenal are battling Tottenham for Charlton defender Ezri Konsa. #AFC pic.twitter.com/uqsZq5T6kg
— Danny (@Arsenal_Danny97) June 25, 2017
However, it seems Arsenal and Tottenham are the two teams in the running to bring the player over to the Premier League. Both the teams have a good recent track record of recruiting from the lower divisions. Tottenham saw the rise of Dele Alli and Rob Holding, too, has become a regular part of the first-team setup at Arsenal.
While Alli has truly become a global superstar, Holding was very influential in the last stages of the 2016-17 Premier League campaign. Arsene Wenger and Mauricio Pochettino both need reinforcements at the back and Konsa’s arrival can add depth to their defensive unit.
Konsa, himself, is nowhere near Premier League football at the present moment at Charlton and may accept a squad role at either of the clubs, seeing the progression of Rob Holding at the Emirates.
While Pochettino has a great track record of developing youngsters and inducting them into the first-team setup, Arsenal may be a better choice, given the fact that the Gunners will have to rotate heavily because of Thursday Night football – the Europa League.
It would be interesting to see what Konsa opts for. Alternatively, Charlton may agree to a deal only with the inclusion of a season-long loan-back option, something that could also interest either club. The 19-year-old, though, looks set for a bright future.
