Arsenal are close to meeting Bologna’s asking price for Italy star Riccardo Calafiori, according to reports in Italy.
The centre-half has emerged as a transfer target for both the Gunners and Chelsea this summer following his superb season at Bologna, helping the club finish in fifth place, securing Champions League qualification in the process.
While Italy were dumped out of Euro 2024 at the first knockout stage, Calafiori impressed for the Azzurri.
Juventus have held talks over a move for the former Roma youngster but are thought to have been priced out of a move with Bologna’s preference also to sell him to a club outside of Serie A.
Corriere dello Sport report Arsenal have now made a formal offer to sign the 22-year-old worth €47million (£40m). Bologna have not yet responded to that offer and are believed to be holding out for a fee of €50m.
Calafiori joined Bologna from FC Basel in a deal worth €4m (£3.3m) last summer, with the Swiss side retaining a 40 per cent sell-on clause.
Bologna’s technical director Giovanni Sartoria this week admitted Calafiori could move on again if they receive an ‘important’ offer.
‘We took him 12 months ago, so we’ll see what happens in the market, but in our heads there is the will to keep him,’ Sartori said.
‘We will try to keep him, but if important offers arrive, we will have to take them into consideration.
‘I don’t think he will go to Juventus, he will probably go to a different market.’
Arsenal have had a quiet summer so far with the club set to confirm the permanent signing of David Raya from Brentford for £27m following his loan spell in north last season.
A new centre forward is thought to be on Mikel Arteta’s list of priorities. Arsenal are huge admirers of Alexander Isak but have cooled their interest with Newcastle United reportedly demanding in excess of £150m for the Sweden international.
RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, whose Slovenia side were eliminated from Euro 2024 on Monday, was also a top target but has decided to remain in Germany of at least one more year.
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