July 17th 2024.
According to reports from Italy, Arsenal's pursuit of Riccardo Calafiori has hit a snag due to a disagreement between Bologna and the defender's former club, FC Basel. It seems that Mikel Arteta has set his sights on Calafiori as one of his top targets for the upcoming summer transfer window, and the Gunners have been in extensive discussions with Bologna to secure a deal for the 22-year-old.
It appears that Bologna has finally accepted Arsenal's offer of €40 million up front, with an additional €5 million in add-ons. Personal terms have also been agreed upon between the Gunners and the talented defender, who impressed with his performances for Italy in this summer's Euro 2024 tournament.
However, the transfer is currently at a standstill as Bologna and Basel are at odds over Calafiori's sell-on clause. Basel, who sold the young defender for €4 million just last year, are now demanding 50% of the transfer fee that Arsenal is set to pay. Bologna, on the other hand, is not happy with this arrangement as they feel that Calafiori's rise in value is a result of their investment and development in him, despite his short stint with Basel and his recent call-up to the Italian national team.
The situation has reached an impasse, with Basel refusing to lower their demands and Bologna attempting to renegotiate the sell-on clause. It's a frustrating development for both clubs, as Bologna had initially expected the transfer to be completed shortly after Italy's Euro 2024 campaign ended. However, it seems that Calafiori will now have to report back to Bologna for pre-season training this weekend, as they prepare for their training camp in the picturesque location of Valles, Alto Adige in northern Italy.
Meanwhile, Arsenal has welcomed back some of their players for pre-season training, with those who participated in Euro 2024 and the Copa America given an extended break. The team is set to fly out to the United States on July 21 for the start of their pre-season tour. As we eagerly await the completion of Calafiori's move to Arsenal, stay tuned for more news, exclusives, and analysis on all things Gunners.
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