July 5th 2024.
It seems that a major transfer may be in the works for Italian defender, Riccardo Calafiori, as he is rumoured to be heading for north London to join Arsenal. Bologna, his current team, is reportedly willing to accept an offer of around €55million from the Gunners for the 22-year-old player.
Calafiori has caught the attention of both Arsenal and Chelsea after an impressive season with Bologna, helping them secure a spot in the Champions League for the upcoming season. Despite Italy's early exit from Euro 2024, Calafiori's performance did not go unnoticed, and Arsenal is now close to finalizing the deal to bring him to the Premier League.
According to Corriere dello Sport, Bologna received a "monster" offer from Arsenal on Thursday night, which seems to have convinced them to sell. The Gunners have been eager to secure the transfer quickly, with Chelsea also showing interest, and have presented an offer that they believe will seal the deal in record time. The decision now rests with Bologna's president, Joey Saputo, and CEO, Claudio Fenucci.
Personal terms have already been agreed upon between Calafiori and Arsenal, with the defender set to quadruple his salary by making the move to north London. The report claims that Arsenal has sanctioned a four-year deal for the Italian player.
It seems that Mikel Arteta is close to getting his desired addition to the team. Earlier this week, Bologna's technical director, Giovanni Sartoria, hinted that Calafiori would likely leave the club if they receive a significant offer from outside of Italy. However, he also expressed their desire to keep the player if possible. "We took him 12 months ago, so we'll see what happens in the market, but in our heads there is the will to keep him," Sartoria said.
He also mentioned that Calafiori is not likely to join Juventus, but rather a different market. It appears that Italy's early exit from Euro 2024 has accelerated Arsenal's move to secure the player.
While Arsenal already boasts a strong centre-half pairing in William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães, the addition of Calafiori would provide an extra level of depth for a squad that is preparing to compete on four fronts in the upcoming season. The Gunners are also looking to strengthen their attacking options, as they narrowly missed out on the Premier League title last season.
Manager Mikel Arteta has stated that the club is looking to improve in every department, and with the new regulations and international tournaments slowing down the market, things have been moving slowly. However, with the potential signing of Calafiori, things may finally start to pick up for Arsenal. Fans can look forward to more news, exclusives, and analysis by signing up for updates on the club's website.
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