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Aston Villa boss Dean Smith not surprised by Ezri Konsa rumours

Liverpool and Tottenham have supposedly been monitoring the 23-year-old centre-half after an impressive season so far.

Aston Villa boss Dean Smith is not surprised by speculation linking defender Ezri Konsa with a move to Liverpool or Tottenham.

Konsa, signed for £12million from Brentford 18 months ago, has been a standout performer for Villa this season, helping them keep 10 clean sheets in 20 Premier League appearances.

Liverpool and Spurs have both been reported to be monitoring the 23-year-old centre-back, while a senior England call-up has also been mooted.

"Everybody can see that we're having a good season so far and when teams have good seasons players get linked with everybody," said Smith, whose side play Leicester at Villa Park on Sunday.

"He's one of our players who has been consistent this season. It's his first proper Premier League season, he's cut out mistakes, he's been a consistent performer for us and playing to a level where I know he can.

"But there's also certainly room for improvement in him. He's aware of that and is enjoying himself at the moment, so he certainly won't be distracted by any links."

Villa, eighth in the table with games in hand on their rivals, turned in a below-par display last week and were lucky to eke out a point from a goalless draw at Brighton.

Smith said he expected a positive response from his players against Leicester, who returned from the Czech Republic in midweek after the first leg of their last-32 Europa League tie against Slavia Prague ended goalless.

"I'm very confident because they have done that throughout the season," Smith said. "It's very rare we've gone two games on the spin where our performance levels haven't been good.

"We've had a good week's training so far and we'll take that into the game on Sunday, but these players have responded very well to any criticism or pressure from myself."

Smith, who will be without defender Matty Cash, was coy on whether he will be making any tactical changes.

"I've always said changes come about when players aren't playing well or players get injured," he added.

"Matty Cash obviously has got injured, so I've got an enforced change there. We've had a full week's training, so I'll look at the squad and decide the team from there."

Right-back Cash will be sidelined for three to four weeks due to a hamstring injury sustained at Brighton.

Defender Kortney Hause (foot) and striker Wesley (knee) both continue to work their way back from long-term injury.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Arsenal37275589286186
2Manchester CityMan City36267391335885
3Liverpool36239481384378
4Aston Villa36207973532067
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs361961171591263
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle361761379572257
7Chelsea361691173611257
8Manchester UnitedMan Utd36166145256-454
9West Ham UnitedWest Ham371410135971-1252
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton361212125458-448
11Bournemouth37139155365-1248
12Crystal Palace371210155258-646
13Wolverhampton WanderersWolves37137175063-1346
14Fulham37128175159-844
15Everton37139153949-1040
16Brentford37109185461-739
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3789204766-1929
18Luton TownLuton3768235081-3126
RBurnley3759234076-3624
RSheffield UnitedSheff Utd37372735101-6616


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