Edu Gaspar – Director of Football at the Emirates Stadium – has agreed a £45m deal with the Serie A side for the Italy international, according to Gazzetta dello Sport.
So, what is the issue regarding Riccardo Calafiori and Arsenal? Let’s take a look…
Why Riccardo Calafiori to Arsenal could now collapse
A story by Corriere dello Sport (print version, Tuesday 16th July) now highlights a problem in the deal, caused by the Italian’s old club FC Basel.
The Swiss giants are entitled to 50% of any transfer fee received by Bologna as part of a sell-on clause, which was agreed when FC Basel sold Calafiori to the Italian side in August 2023.
However, Bologna do not want to part with such a huge chunk of the profits, so they are pressuring FC Basel to accept less than a 50% cut, or they threaten to pull the plug and keep the 22-year-old at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara, meaning they keep a fantastic player, and the Swiss side get nothing.
Ultimately, FC Basel’s 50% is written in ink that dried long ago, so Bologna have to honour the agreement should a sale go through.
Riccardo Calafiori of Bologna FC looks on during the Serie A TIM match between Bologna FC and Atalanta BC at Stadio Renato Dall'Ara on December 23,...
Photo by Alessandro Sabattini/Getty Images
It sounds as if Bologna are merely trying to intimidate the Swiss giants, as Corriere dello Sport add that Bologna themselves want to use their cut of the money to bolster the squad in multiple areas ahead of a UEFA Champions League campaign in 2024/25.
Therefore, we wouldn’t expect this debate to actually cause Calafiori’s move to Arsenal to collapse.
Gunners could announce two signings very close to each other
Calafiori is not the only player Arsenal have seen a bid accepted for lately.
The reliable Charles Watts has since added that Arsenal are set to announce the teenager’s arrival imminently.
Therefore, two transfer announcements are on the horizon for Arsenal fans to enjoy, which should be welcome news after a quiet summer of recruitment so far.
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