Arsenal prepared to pay hefty fee to sign £42m star

Arsenal are prepared to pay a hefty fee to sign Barcelona defender Jules Kounde, according to Sport (page 7).The Gunners are in the transfer market for an experienced centre-back following a back injury sustained by William Saliba at the World Cup.Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa is the prime target, but the Midlands outfit are reluctant to lower their £60 million price tag for the England international.As a result, the Gunners are looking elsewhere. Sport claim the club are most interested