JAKARTA - Arsenal are approaching Bologna and Italy defenders, Riccardo Calafiori. The Gunners are already talking seriously and the 22-year-old defender has a big chance of moving to England.
According to Fabrizio Romano, world football transfer expert, coach of The Gunners, Mikel Arteta, has admired Calafori since he helped Bologna qualify for last season's Champions League.
The Bologist ended Serie A 2023/2024 in fifth place with 68 points behind Inter Milan, AC Milan, Juventus, and Atalanta.
Even Arsenal's proposal, according to Romano, made Calafiore open to leaving Italy despite having a contract of up to 2027 with Bologna.
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Bologna actually wants to keep the star, but will consider an offer if it can meet the club's price.
"We will try to keep Calafori, but if any important offers come in, we have to consider them."
"I don't think he's going to Juventus. He's probably going to a different country," Bologna Technical Director Giovanni Sartori told Sky Sports Italia.
The problem is, Arsenal must compete with Chelsea who are also interested in Calafiori's services. The Blues have so far also submitted a proposal to Bologna.
Previously, Liverpool had been linked with the Calafiori move, but they were not ready to challenge Arsenal to get their signature.
Calafori made 30 appearances for Bologna last season and helped his team record 13 clean-sheets.
He came from Rome's academy and was briefly loaned to Genoa before moving permanently to Basel.
Calafiori has recorded five caps for Italy, with three of them taking place at Euro 2024, before the reigning champions were eliminated from Switzerland in the round of 16.
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