HERE WE GO ✅: Arsenal complete the signing of Italian Defender on a 5yr deal, Medical completed last night – Unveiling currently ongoing at London Colney

Arsenal is making a concerted effort to secure Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, seeking to finalize the deal before rival clubs can intervene. Reports indicate that Arsenal has offered Calafiori a weekly wage of £65,000 to persuade him to join.

Historically, Arsenal has been prudent in the center-back market, only acquiring Gabriel and William Saliba in recent years. Other Premier League clubs, on the other hand, have signed prominent defenders like Josko Gvardiol, Wesley Fofana, Micky van de Ven, and Lisandro Martinez. However, this cautious approach appears to be changing. According to TuttoBologna, Arsenal is now leading the race to sign Calafiori, having proposed attractive personal terms to lure the former Roma star as they aim to clinch their first top-flight title in 21 years.

Arsenal is reportedly making significant progress in their pursuit of Calafiori, with the club eager to finalize the transfer swiftly. Mikel Arteta’s team is pushing hard to secure his signature. Although an agreement with Bologna on the transfer fee has not yet been reached, Arsenal’s readiness to meet financial demands gives them a substantial edge over other interested clubs, such as Chelsea and Juventus. Renowned football journalist Fabrizio Romano has described Calafiori as “one of the best in the world.”

Arsenal is offering Calafiori €4 million annually, equating to £65,000 per week, while Bologna is seeking a fee of around £43 million for their star defender. Despite this, Bologna may propose a new contract with a significant wage increase to retain him, particularly since the club has qualified for the Champions League.

Calafiori would be an ideal acquisition for Arsenal. Known for their attractive, passing football, Arsenal would find Calafiori to be a seamless fit. His transfer value is anticipated to rise, given his reputation as one of Italy’s top defenders, particularly after his performances at EURO 2024. Although Italy did not impress in the warm-up games before the tournament in Germany, Calafiori stood out with his committed defending, confidence in advancing the ball, and overall composure as a ball-playing defender.

While he scored an unfortunate own goal against Spain, he redeemed himself with a superb assist for Mattia Zaccagni in Italy’s last-minute 1-1 draw against Croatia, helping them qualify for the knockout stages. This display of world-class quality is something Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta would highly value at the Emirates Stadium.

Currently, William Saliba and Gabriel are Arsenal’s first-choice center-backs, with Jakub Kiwior as the only reliable backup. Signing Calafiori would be a strategic move for the future, as he can also fill in at left-back if Oleksandr Zinchenko’s form declines. This addition would significantly bolster Arsenal’s defensive lineup, enhancing their prospects in both domestic and international competitions.