Aston Villa's £18 Million Bid for Taylor Harwood-Bellis Rejected by Southampton

Aston Villa have seen an £18 million bid for Taylor Harwood-Bellis knocked back by Southampton, as the Midlands club scramble to line up a replacement for Ezri Konsa.

With Konsa edging towards a £51m-plus-add-ons move to Arsenal, Villa have turned to the Southampton centre-back, who is one of three defensive options under consideration by Unai Emery. Southampton are standing firm. Benfica have already tested their resolve with a £17m offer and received the same answer: rejected.

Villa’s need is clear. Konsa, 28, is closing in on a switch to north London, where Arsenal are desperate for a right-sided defender. Long-term injuries to William Saliba and Jurrien Timber mean Mikel Arteta’s back line is already stretched before a ball has been kicked. Konsa’s ability to operate both at centre-back and right-back has put him at the top of Arsenal’s list.

Talks between Arsenal and Villa are now described as “advancing”, with discussions even taking place at ownership level to close the gap in valuations. Arsenal have been prepared to go to around £40m. Villa value Konsa closer to £60m. Personal terms, on the other hand, are not expected to be a problem.

As that saga rumbles on, another at Arsenal has infuriated one of the club’s greatest icons.

Wright fumes over Lewis-Skelly noise

Ian Wright has launched a fierce defence of Arsenal prospect Myles Lewis-Skelly and his family amid ongoing speculation over the teenager’s future.

Lewis-Skelly has been linked with a move to Manchester United this summer, despite making it clear he wants to stay at Arsenal. Wright cannot believe it has been allowed to drag on.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, he said: “I don’t know where that’s coming from because I know for a fact that’s not coming from his team.

“It’s not coming from his mum. Arsenal fans need to chill out with his mum saying that she’s touting him about. Myles has already said he’s happy to stay. Why have Arsenal not just said he’s not for sale?

“He’d be a great signing for Manchester United, of course he would. Look what he’s doing.”

For Wright, the frustration is simple: Arsenal have a player who wants to stay, yet the noise continues.

New season, new rules

While clubs reshape their squads, players and coaches must also adapt to a fresh batch of laws set to change the rhythm of Premier League matches.

If play is stopped for an injury, the affected player must now leave the pitch for at least one minute, up from the previous 30 seconds. It is a clear attempt to cut down on time-wasting and tactical pauses.

VAR will also have a slightly wider reach on disciplinary calls. Second yellow cards can now be reviewed, but only when a player has clearly been shown a wrong second yellow. It will not be used to check potential second bookings that were not given.

Set-piece delays will come under the microscope too. A five-second countdown will be used for throw-ins and goal-kicks. If a player drags it out beyond that limit, the restart will be reversed – a throw-in handed to the opposition, or a corner awarded if a goal-kick is delayed.

Substitutions will be sharper. Players have 10 seconds to leave the pitch when being replaced. Take too long, and the incoming substitute must wait until the next stoppage in play after one minute has passed.

Some of the more radical measures seen at the World Cup will not cross over. Matches will not be split into quarters; drinks breaks will only be allowed if the temperature at kick-off exceeds 30 degrees Celsius. VAR will not be expanded to overturn incorrectly awarded corners. The mistaken-identity rule will remain strictly about identifying the right player for a yellow card, not re-refereeing the offence itself.

Talk of red cards for players covering their mouths has also been parked. The three-step discrimination protocol inside stadiums remains in place for player-reported abuse.

Gyokeres focused on Arsenal, not Barcelona

Away from the law changes, Viktor Gyokeres has underlined where his attention lies after being linked with Barcelona.

The Swede, speaking to talkSPORT, made it clear he is not thinking about an exit and is locked in on Arsenal and the start of the new campaign.

“I’m looking forward a lot, it’s going to be nice to start a league campaign again and to start against my old club.

“It’s a great way to start at home so I’m looking forward to it. I haven’t played against them so of course it’s going to be nice to see a few of them that are still there and meet the fans as well.”

No transfer talk. Just the next match and a reunion with familiar faces.

Keane unconvinced by United’s midfield

At Manchester United, the debate is different. Even with Carlos Baleba on the way in, Roy Keane still doesn’t believe United’s midfield is strong enough to mount a title challenge.

Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Keane said: “If you’re on about winning the league, I think it’s (United’s midfield) short. United’s big problems are still going to be defensively.

“That midfield and going forward, there is a big goal threat at United, they were very good last year with it, especially when Carrick took over they were a real goal threat.

“But the issue is at the back, the full-backs and the two centre-halves are still a big issue. But on paper, they [the midfield] jump out as really good players. But is there a league-winning midfield there? Probably not. No, I don’t see it.”

United might fix the middle. Keane’s warning is clear: the back line could still define their season.

Curtis Jones closing in on Inter move

On Merseyside, Curtis Jones is edging towards a fresh start in Serie A.

Reports in Italy say the Liverpool midfielder is due to land in Italy today for a medical ahead of a move to Inter Milan. Journalist Gianluca Di Marzio reports that Jones has agreed a five-year contract, with Inter submitting an offer in the region of £30m.

Jones is in the final year of his Liverpool deal and there has been no movement on an extension. Inter are ready to step in, with the San Siro looming as his next stage.

Barcelona change course in striker hunt

Barcelona’s search for attacking reinforcements has also taken a turn. Their pursuit of Julian Alvarez is over for this summer, with Atletico’s hardline stance pushing sporting director Deco towards other targets.

Speaking about the club’s efforts to replace Robert Lewandowski and Ferran Torres, Deco told ESPN: “We’ve lost two players in attack, Lewy and Ferran. I think we have solutions to cover Ferran with the signings we have made. Replacing Robert is much more difficult. It’s really tough to replace a player like him.

“We have some internal solutions, but we have to look [what’s available]. There is a lot of noise. I think there will be more movement, we are still working hard.”

Barcelona know the market is volatile. Their need for a reliable No 9 has not gone away.

Back in England, Arsenal’s own defensive rebuild and Villa’s response to it could yet trigger another chain reaction. If Konsa goes and Harwood-Bellis stays out of reach, who blinks first in a market that is only getting tighter by the day?