July 18th 2024.
Arsenal had high hopes of acquiring the talented Italian defender, Riccardo Calafiori, before their pre-season tour of America. However, it seems that their plans have hit a setback. Negotiations between Arsenal and Bologna have hit a snag, causing a delay in finalizing the deal.
The Gunners were hoping to secure Calafiori's signature before their first pre-season match against Bournemouth in a week's time. With matches against Manchester United and Liverpool also on the schedule for July 28 and August 1, time is running out for the 19-year-old to join the team.
Unfortunately, it seems that the chances of Calafiori being ready for any of these matches are becoming increasingly slim. Reports have stated that a fee of €40m has been agreed upon between Arsenal and Bologna, but a disagreement between Bologna and Calafiori's former club, Basel, over a sell-on clause is causing a delay.
According to sources, the two clubs are still in negotiations over the fee, and there is also an issue with Jakub Kiwior's reluctance to join Bologna as part of the deal. Kiwior, a Poland international who joined Arsenal 18 months ago, would prefer a move to AC Milan instead of Bologna.
Kiwior had to wait patiently for his chance in the first team under Mikel Arteta, but injuries to other players gave him the opportunity to impress. He showed his potential during a blistering run of form last season, but he also had some struggles, particularly in a Champions League match against Bayern Munich where he was substituted at half-time. He only made three appearances after that match.
Bologna is in need of a versatile defender who can play both at centre-back and left-back, and they are also in talks with Juventus for Daniele Rugani. Kiwior is open to a return to Serie A, but his preferred destination would be AC Milan, who have been interested in him for some time.
In the meantime, Arsenal fans will have to wait and see if a deal for Calafiori can be completed before their pre-season tour of America. With time running out and negotiations still ongoing, it remains to be seen if the young defender will join the Gunners in time for their upcoming matches. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
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