Arsenal is about to make their second summer transfer window acquisition when defender Riccardo Calafiori of Bologna is set to move to the Emirates Stadium. The Italian is a great addition for the Gunners after making an impression at Euro 2024.
Negotiations are still underway, but Calafiori looks to be Arsenal’s second summer addition after Brentford’s David Raya, who was signed on a permanent basis. Arsenal and Bologna are still at odds over Bologna’s €50 million asking price for the defender, according to Football Italia/Corriere dello Sport. It is anticipated that the two clubs would continue to communicate.
Calafiori would supposedly sign a five-year deal in North London if an agreement is struck, with an annual salary of approximately €4 million. For Arsenal, who have been looking for a top-tier center-back to partner with William Saliba, his signing would be a huge coup.
Calafiori is a fantastic fit for Mikel Arteta’s style because of his ability to play the ball out from the back and his strong defensive abilities.
Despite Calafiori’s desire to join the Bianconeri, Bologna’s transfer head Giovanni Sartori disclosed last week that the player is more likely to go to the Premier League than to Juventus. According to Sartori, Bologna is prepared to trade Calafiori to the appropriate team and would entertain serious bids for the player.
After being first connected to a move to Liverpool, it appears that Arsenal has gained the upper hand and is the favourite to sign him.
It is only a matter of time until Calafiori completes his transfer to the Emirates Stadium if Arsenal meets Bologna’s asking price. This acquisition would represent Jorginho’s influence in the locker room and greatly strengthen Arsenal’s defence.
Arsenal is committed to developing a squad that can contend for the Premier League championship. Acquiring one of the world’s best young defenders, Calafiori, would be a big step towards improving their title chances and fortifying their defence.
Transfer deadline for Nico Williams
If the team makes an addition in that area this summer, Mikel Arteta is rumoured to prefer to sign Nico Williams. The winger has been linked to Arsenal, Chelsea, and Liverpool, but his preferred team is reportedly Barcelona.
However, it is by no means inevitable that the footballer will choose Catalunya over the Basque Country. Williams has set a soft deadline of his own and wants his future resolved by the first week of August, despite rumours from SPORT that he is rejecting offers from other teams.
Football.london comments: It seems sense that Arteta would want Williams, and the team should be prepared to jump in if Barcelona decides against closing a deal later. The fact that they can offer Champions League football and that the player’s £47 million release clause should be manageable this summer should put them ahead of Chelsea, at the very least.
The Gunners would also have an advantage over Liverpool to be the first team to hijack any deal if Barcelona dropped the ball because their boss, who speaks Spanish, seems to covet the winger. Arsenal should be able to position themselves to be opportunistic should a scenario like this develop because they may not necessarily require a winger.
Dani Olmo’s clause of release
