Why Aston Villa would be right to offer Ezri Konsa a new deal

According to the Express & Star, Aston Villa are lining up a new contract for highly-rated centre-back Ezri Konsa in the coming months after the youngster’s impressive start to the ongoing campaign. 

Konsa, though, isn’t the only player at Villa Park expected to sign fresh terms. Manager Dean Smith has indicated that contract negotiations are also in the process for Brazilian midfielder Douglas Luiz, who has been a mainstay in the starting XI.

Profile

Born in London to a Congolese father and an Angolan mother, Ezri Konsa started his footballing education in the youth ranks of Charlton Athletic. He signed a professional contract in December 2015 and made his mark in the Addicks’ first-team during the 2016-17 League One season. 

The defender amassed 86 appearances for the club over two seasons before being snapped up by Brentford in the Championship. Konsa quickly established himself as a regular fixture at the back for the Bees and ended the 2018-19 season with 47 appearances in all competitions. 

The 23-year-old’s reputation as one of the brightest young defensive talents in England promoted Aston Villa to offer him a route to the top-flight in 2019. Konsa started 24 games in the Premier League last season as the Villans narrowly staved off relegation and has contributed greatly to the club’s impressive start to the ongoing campaign. 

The centre-back has, in fact, started and played the full 90 minutes in each of Villa’s 10 opening fixtures in the PL this term so far, forming a formidable pairing with Tyrone Mings.

Konsa has a big future at Villa Park

There’s no better way to recognise a player’s progress at a club than by offering him a new contract and Ezri Konsa has been among Aston Villa’s most improved players in the Premier League this season.

The youngster came under some scrutiny as a part of a backline that shipped 67 goals in the PL last term but has really come to the fore in the ongoing campaign. The 23-year-old’s upturn in form has been one of the major positives from Villa’s stunning start to the season.

This season, the defender has averaged an impressive 6.3 duels per game at 74% success rate while also boasting a better pass success rate of 83.9%. The bigger picture here is that Aston Villa have conceded just 13 goals in the Premier League this season so far and Konsa has certainly played a big part. 

Aston Villa have already initiated a contract renewal drive to secure the long-term futures of key players like Jack Grealish, Tyrone Mings and John McGinn. A new deal for Ezri Konsa, to that end, would represent a continuation of the same policy as the Villans bid to keep hold of their first-team mainstays. 

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Verdict

Ezri Konsa has already started to deliver on his potential in the Premier League and still has his best years ahead of him at 23. The centre-back has shown strong signs of progress over the past 12 months and while he has a contract until 2023, it would make sense for the club to offer him fresh and improved terms.