The 22-year-old defender has emerged as Mikel Arteta’s main transfer target in recent weeks, with Arsenal at work to bring the Italian international to north London as the first signing of the summer, with a deal believed to be close.
Calafiori has enjoyed a sensational season which saw the defender play a starring role in Bologna’s unlikely run to a UEFA Champions League finish with this summer seeing the youngster become Italy’s breakout player at Euro 2024.
And now, Arsenal have come forward with their bid to sign the highly-rated centre-back.
Riccardo Calafiori of Italy U21 during the Italy U21 Training Session on March 19, 2024 in Rimini, Italy.
Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
Arsenal’s Calafiori bid made up of £33m upfront with £8m in add-ons
According to Sky Sports Italia, Arsenal’s current bid for Calafiori comes in at €40m (£33m) guaranteed with an additional €10m (£8m) in add-ons, all adding up to a €50m (£42m) figure that Bologna are looking for to sell the defender.
With the current offer lacking any percentage of future resale for Bologna, there’s a real chance that this detail could be the sticking point for why the deal is yet to be completed, given that the Italian side owes FC Basel 50% of any fee the Serie A club recoup for Calafiori.
Indeed, the sale of Calafiori to Arsenal still appears to be a matter of ‘when’ it will happen rather than ‘if, with the defender intent on moving to north London having been convinced by Arteta’s project for the Gunners.
However, the longer this deal drags out, the more Arsenal fans will grow restless over if the signing will even happen, with Calafiori a player who supporters are now expecting to be signed in the coming days.
Arsenal’s pursuit for Calafiori has been going on for some weeks, yet for fans, the saga has felt like a lifetime, with constant updates coming out from the English and Italian media every day yet little actually happening between the Gunners and Bologna in getting a deal done.
As a result, the north London side need to be as quick as they can to complete the signing of Calafiori, who will be a fantastic addition to the Arsenal squad this summer whilst also getting the ball rolling on other deals being completed.
Arsenal are ready to go big yet again this summer, and getting Calafiori through the door as soon as possible will be ideal for the north London side in their bid to build a squad that can compete with Manchester City next season for the title.
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