ASTON VILLA boss Dean Smith has laughed off suggestions of Ezri Konsa leaving the Midlands.
The former England Under-21 international’s impressive displays this season have reportedly caught the eye of Premier League big boys Liverpool and Tottenham.
According to The Athletic, the duo are keeping tabs on the defender – who has been one of Villa’s star players this season.
Smith isn’t surprised by the reported interest in Konsa but is confident the youngster will continue to keep his feet on the ground.
He said: “He certainly won’t get distracted.
“I’m not sure Ezri reads any newspapers but he’s probably seen it online I would have thought, somewhere.
“But, I’ll certainly give him a little bit of a ribbing about it and I’m sure the lads have already!”
Konza has played a huge role in Villa’s success this season, helping the Midlands club keep 12 clean sheets in 22 league matches.
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And former Villa hitman Kevin Phillips expects his old club to hand the 23-year-old a new deal to ward off potential suitors.
In an interview with Football Inside, Phillips said of Konsa: “He’s been at the heart of everything Villa have done this season.
“He’s been excellent with Mings, they haven’t been breached too much this year.
“I haven’t seen too many players give him the run-around. To believe he was only at Charlton a few years ago.
“To come to the Premier League and to do what he’s done after they had a difficult season last year is brilliant.
“Naturally, when you get big clubs sniffing around, you’re probably going to get offered a new deal.
“It happened to me at Sunderland, the club came and said: ‘We want to offer you a new deal.’
“I’m pretty sure that’s gonna happen before the end of the season if he keeps performing the way he is.”
Konsa and his Villa team-mates – who are currently eighth in the Premier League table – will be back in action on Sunday afternoon, welcoming Leicester City to Villa Park.
