BREAKING UPDATE✅✅: Ricardo Calafiori’s Arsenal future ‘SHIRT NUMBER’ has been disclosed as his agent and Bologna’s director approve the €50m transfer set to be finalized tomorrow.
Arsenal is making a determined effort to secure Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori before other clubs can step in, reportedly offering him a weekly wage of £65,000 to ensure his signature ahead of their rivals.
In the past, Arsenal has been cautious in acquiring center-backs, signing only Gabriel and William Saliba in recent years. In contrast, Premier League competitors have added talents like Josko Gvardiol, Wesley Fofana, Micky van de Ven, and Lisandro Martinez. However, Arsenal’s approach may soon change as they are reportedly leading the race to sign Calafiori. According to TuttoBologna, Arsenal has presented enticing personal terms to the former Roma star, aiming to win their first top-flight title in 21 years.
Arsenal has offered Riccardo Calafiori improved terms to join the club. The defender could soon be heading to North London, with reports indicating that Arsenal is making significant progress in their pursuit. Although they have not yet reached an agreement with Bologna on the transfer fee, Arsenal’s willingness to meet the deal’s demands has given them a substantial advantage over other interested clubs, including Chelsea and Juventus. Renowned transfer expert Fabrizio Romano recently described Calafiori as ‘one of the best in the world’.
Arsenal is offering Calafiori €4 million per year, equivalent 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 deal with a significant wage increase to keep him, especially since the club has qualified for the Champions League.
Calafiori would be the perfect signing for Arsenal. The Gunners, known for their attractive, passing football, would greatly benefit from Calafiori’s addition. His transfer value is expected to rise, given his status as one of Italy’s best defenders, particularly after his performances at EURO 2024. Despite only making two appearances for Italy in the warm-up games before the tournament in Germany, Calafiori impressed with his committed defending, confidence in bringing the ball out, and overall composure as a ball-playing defender.
While he did score an unfortunate own goal against Spain, he redeemed himself with a superb assist for Mattia Zaccagni in Italy’s last-gasp 1-1 draw against Croatia, which helped them qualify for the knockout stages. This glimpse of world-class quality is something that Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will highly value at the Emirates Stadium.
Currently, William Saliba and Gabriel are Arsenal’s first-choice center-backs, with Jakub Kiwior as the only decent backup. Signing Calafiori would be an inspired move for the future, as he can also fill in at left-back if Oleksandr Zinchenko’s form drops. This strategic acquisition would significantly strengthen Arsenal’s defensive lineup, enhancing their chances in both domestic and international competitions.