Football transfer rumours: Arsenal back for £60m Konsa? Asencio to Liverpool?

Today’s rumours are prising open their war chest

Aston Villa struggling to hold on to their World Cup stars has become something of a theme of this transfer window and off we go again as Arsenal have stepped up their interest in Ezri Konsa. The Daily Mail reports that the Premier League champions, having had a bid for the England defender rebuffed last month, are coming back with a bigger offer for Konsa, who Villa value at £60m minimum. Villa for their part are trying to nail down a £14m deal for Atlético Madrid’s Italian left-back Matteo Ruggeri.

Liverpool are looking for defensive reinforcements and could swoop for the Real Madrid centre-back Raúl Asencio. The 23-year-0ld has been told he can leave the Bernabéu and various Mr 15%s have approached Liverpool about a move, reports Teamtalk. Also on Andoni Iraola’s radar is the teenage Paris Saint-Germain winger Ibrahim Mbaye. The 18-year-old, who scored a stunning goal for Senegal against France at the World Cup, is believed to be keen on a move to Anfield.