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Joleon Lescott has predicted that Aston Villa could have a hard job trying to keep hold of their star Ezri Konsa in the future.

Konsa, who move to Villa Park for £12million (BBC) in 2019, has been such a key figure in the heart of his team’s defence.

He managed to play fairly regularly during his first year with the Midlands giants as they narrowly avoided relegation, but this season he’s taken his game to a new level.

The 23-year-old has one of the Premier League’s most consistent centre-back partnerships alongside teammate Tyrone Mings.

Konsa has started whenever fit for Dean Smith’s side, and his reputation keeps growing every week.

He’s yet to earn a first senior call-up to the England squad, but surely can’t be a million miles away considering teammate Mings is already in Gareth Southgate’s international group.

Lescott believes that the English centre-half is exactly the type of quality player that is going to attract interest.

“I’ll be surprised if he’s there for more time. If he’s selected for the Euros and get minutes, I think he can showcase that he can play at the top. I’ll be surprised if teams don’t come and try recruit Konsa,” Lescott told Stadium Astro.

TBR’s View:

If you were to make a list of traits you’re looking for in a defender, then Villa’s rising star Konsa ticks most of the boxes.

The Englishman is tidy on the ball and a great passer like most modern day defenders, but equal to that he’s dominant in the air and is very intelligent in the backline.

Villa supporters will be hoping they can keep their core group together for a few years to really try establish themselves as a top-10 club again, but inevitably their star performers will be drawing attention.