July 3rd 2024.
According to reports, the talented Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori has caught the eye of top English clubs Arsenal and Chelsea. Despite Italy's early exit in the Euro 2024 tournament, Calafiori impressed with his performance, earning a spot in the team's squad. This, along with his impressive season with Bologna, where he made 33 appearances and helped the team qualify for the Champions League, has put him in the spotlight for a potential transfer this summer.
It is no surprise that Arsenal has identified Calafiori as a key target, as they reportedly made a £40m proposal to Bologna for his services. In addition to the offer, the Premier League runners-up have also reached out to the defender with a long-term proposal, hoping to entice him to join their ranks. Calafiori is reportedly open to the idea of joining the Gunners, who narrowly missed out on the Premier League title last season, but another top English club, Chelsea, may also be vying for his signature.
With the departure of Thiago Silva, Chelsea is in the market for a new center-back and could potentially make a player-plus-cash offer to Bologna for Calafiori. However, it seems that Arsenal may have the upper hand in the transfer race, with manager Mikel Arteta personally sanctioning the pursuit of the young defender and showing a keen interest in bringing him to the Emirates Stadium.
Despite the interest from top clubs, Bologna's technical director Giovanni Sartori has stated that the club's intention is to keep hold of Calafiori. However, he also acknowledged that if a significant offer were to come in, they would have to consider it. Sartori also ruled out a move to Juventus for Calafiori, stating that he may be headed to a different market.
While Arsenal has yet to make any new signings this summer, they are closing in on making David Raya's loan move from Brentford permanent. They are also actively searching for a new striker after missing out on Benjamin Sesko. On the other hand, Chelsea has already made four signings, including Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall from Leicester City. It remains to be seen which club will ultimately win the race to sign Calafiori, but one thing is for sure – he is a highly sought-after talent in the transfer market.
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