The Gunners are close to signing the Italian international from Bologna after protracted negotiations to procure his services
Arsenal are closing in on a deal to sign Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, football.london understands.
The Gunners have been in talks with the Serie A side for some time over the Italian international. Initial offers were rebuffed with Bologna looking to secure a hefty fee given a series of sell on clause agreements involving Calafiori’s former clubs FC Basel and AS Roma. A deal involving Jakub Kiwior heading to Bologna was touted, but it’s understood that the Polish international was not keen on the move.
Now though, Arsenal are thought to be close to securing what will be Arteta’s second senior signing of the summer after David Raya’s loan move from Brentford was made permanent. Calafiori was left out of Bologna’s pre-season training squad, and it is thought to be a matter of time before the deal is made official.
He will become Arsenal’s fourth signing overall this window after academy goalkeepers Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygard have already arrived this summer. Both players were on the plane that touched down in LA on Sunday night as Arsenal began their pre-season tour of America. It is not yet clear what the exact plans are for Calafiori in regards to the trip to the States, although Arteta has shown a preference to have his new signings integrated into the squad on pre-season tours in the past. Two years ago Oleksandr Zinchenko joined midway through Arsenal’s pre-season tour of Orlando.
Calafiori is viewed as a potential solution at left back for Arsenal. The position proved to be something of an uncertainty last season with Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu all filling the role at different stages. The Italian can also play at centre back where he is expected to provide competition for Gabriel Magalhaes.
Arsenal have no intention of ending their summer business with Calafiori. The Gunners are keen to add a midfielder to the ranks, with Mikel Merino of Real Sociedad among the players they are looking at. A forward is also on the agenda, while Edu could return with a second bid for Wolves goalkeeper Dan Bentley amid uncertainty over Aaron Ramsdale’s future.
It is not thought that Arsenal will be bringing in any superstar names this summer necessarily. Instead the club’s policy this window is to acquire players who can raise the level of the squad in a similar manner to what recent signings Jorginho and Leandro Trossard have done.
