Arsenal chief Mikel Arteta will need to convince some figures within the club that signing Riccardo Calafiori is necessary, according to The Athletic’s David Ornstein, who also suggested that Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko could be on the chopping block to free space and funds for the Italian.
Arsenal currently boast the likes of Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba - widely considered as two of the best centre-backs in world football - but adding another face to their defensive ranks is seemingly on the cards for the north London club.
EPL_Who is Riccardo Calafiori
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Who is Bologna and Italy Defender Riccardo Calafiori
Capable of playing at left-back and in the heart of the back line, the Bologna gem enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2023/24, continued his red-hot form into Euro 2024 with Italy and has been earmarked by the Arsenal chiefs thanks to his positional versatility and talent.
Arteta Needs to Convince Arsenal Chiefs About Calafiori
Ornstein suggested outgoings are required
Speaking on The Athletic FC Podcast, Ornstein said that Arteta himself is sold on the prospect of signing Calafiori, but the Spaniard may need to convince others within the club that Calafiori - described as 'sensational' by Ben Mattinson - is the correct acquisition at this point of their ongoing project.
“Mikel Arteta set his stool out early. This was a player he would like to sign. He may have to convince some within Arsenal of this to get everybody on board, because I think there are some concerns around whether Arsenal need that position.
Suggesting that an exit may need to occur before Calafiori arrives at the Emirates, Ornstein name-dropped both Kiwior and Zinchenko as two players that could be on the chopping block in order to make way for their top target
Calafiori, Kiwior, Zinchenko - 23/24 League Stats
Statistic
Calafiori
Kiwior
Zinchenko
Minutes
2,338
946
1,727
Goals
2
1
1
Assists
5
3
2
Pass success rate (%)
89.8
85.8
89.4
Tackles per game
1.6
1
1.9
Interceptions per game
1.7
0.4
0.7
Overall rating
6.99
6.58
6.81
“Does it require an outgoing? I think it probably would. Whether that's before he comes in or after, I don't know the exact chronology. There are obvious candidates like Kiwior and Zinchenko.”
The versatile defender, 22, believes that Arsenal and Arteta have the ‘best project in the world’, which will play into the hands of his would-be buyers. A paramount figure in Thiago Motta’s Bologna last season, the three-time Premier League winners would be snaring a future superstar.
Arsenal ‘Interested’ in Mikel Merino
Midfielder falls out of club’s typical age range
Alongside a new defender, the capital club are now interested in Real Sociedad’s Mikel Merino, a midfielder who rose from the depths to nod home Spain’s winner against Germany at Euro 2024, per Ornstein.
Should Arteta and Co get a deal across the line, the Spanish tactician will need to divert away from his side’s typical transfer policy. Usually, Arsenal target the youngest and hungriest talent the market has to offer, but the fact that Merino is 28 years old means that he falls outside their typical age range.
GIVEMESPORT Key Statistic: Of Real Sociedad's outfield players, Merino racked up the third-most minutes (2,485) in La Liga last term.
Formerly of Newcastle United, Merino’s first stint in the English top flight didn’t exactly go to plan. The Pamplona-born star spent just one season under the watchful eye of Rafael Benitez in 2018 but could get a second shot of setting the Premier League alight with a move to north London.
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