HERE WE GO: Arsenal have beaten Man united to the signing of £60m superstar, Medical will be done today at London Colney, 4yrs contract signed – Unveiling will be done this morning
Arsenal has reportedly intensified their pursuit of Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, according to Calciomercato. The North London club is actively seeking to bolster their defense during the summer transfer window, with a particular focus on acquiring a left-footed player capable of functioning both as a central defender and a left-back.
Calafiori has recently become a key target for Arsenal. Bologna, however, is reluctant to transfer him to Juventus, making a move to the Premier League the most probable outcome for the player. Bologna is demanding a fee of £42.3 million, partly due to an agreement with Basel, which entitles the Swiss club to 50 percent of the sell-on fee. The upcoming week is expected to be pivotal in determining Calafiori’s next steps.
The prospect of signing Calafiori presents Arsenal with a valuable opportunity. The 22-year-old has emerged as one of Italy’s premier ball-playing defenders. During his inaugural season with Bologna, Calafiori demonstrated impressive statistics, including a 90 percent pass completion rate, winning 71 percent of his aerial duels, and averaging 6.5 recoveries and 2.5 clearances per match. Furthermore, he averaged 1.6 tackles and 1.7 interceptions per game, while also contributing two goals and five assists. These qualities indicate that Calafiori would be a significant addition to the Arsenal squad.
Calafiori’s versatility, allowing him to play both centrally and on the left flank, combined with his ball-handling skills and aerial dominance, would position him as an upgrade over current options Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko. Despite Bologna’s substantial asking price, Arsenal may still proceed with the acquisition to strengthen their defensive line and enhance their prospects for securing the league title in the upcoming season.
Calafiori’s potential arrival at Arsenal might result in the departure of Kiwior, who has struggled with consistency and has shown vulnerability against direct attackers. These insights are supported by data from Transfermarkt.com and Sofascore.com.
