BREAKING NEWS: Arsenal’s pursuit of Riccardo Calafiori has reached a successful conclusion as Bologna has accepted their offer of €47m plus bonuses. Personal terms are already settled, paving the way for Calafiori to sign a five-year deal with Arsenal.

Arsenal are close to meeting Bologna’s €50 million asking price for Riccardo Calafiori, with their current offer at €47 million, just €3 million short. An agreement is expected soon due to this minimal gap, as reported by Corriere dello Sport.

The potential deal for Calafiori began after Jorginho recommended the Bologna defender to Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta. Jorginho, an Italy teammate of Calafiori, personally advised Arteta to seriously consider signing him. Although Arsenal’s current offer is €47 million, Bologna is firm on their €50 million valuation.

Calafiori has attracted interest from major clubs such as Real Madrid, Chelsea, Bayer Leverkusen, and Juventus. Juventus had been leading the race and even agreed on personal terms with Calafiori, who favored a move to the Bianconeri.

However, Bologna is reluctant to sell to a Serie A rival, and Juventus is unable to meet the €50 million price, a problem Arsenal doesn’t face.

Giovanni Sartori, Bologna’s transfer chief, suggested that Calafiori is more likely to join a Premier League club than Juventus.

Sartori mentioned that while Bologna wishes to retain Calafiori, they are open to significant offers from foreign clubs. Additionally, Calafiori’s former club, Basel, stands to receive a 40-50% sell-on fee when he is sold.

Calafiori was one of the breakout stars of the 2023-24 Serie A season, playing a pivotal role in Bologna’s unexpected qualification for the Champions League. The 22-year-old defender was converted from a left back to a center back by former Bologna manager Thiago Motta, now the Juventus boss.

Calafiori has showcased top-class defensive skills, excelling in pressing, game reading, and ball usage, often joining midfield play. He is aggressive, strong in the air, and impressed at Euro 2024, notably assisting Mattia Zaccagni’s crucial 98th-minute equalizer for Italy against Croatia.

Calafiori’s potential move to Arsenal represents a significant advancement in his career, with the Gunners poised to acquire a promising talent to bolster their squad.