Tottenham will have to pay €40 million to stand a chance to sign Riccardo Calafiori, with Bologna not keen on a cheap sale of the defender.
According to Calcio Mercato, Bologna will not sell Riccardo Calafiori for less than €40 million, with Tottenham being one of the sides keen on a defender. The Italian international is expected to star for his nation at the Euros, which will only fuel further speculation about his future, although he wants to sign for Juventus.
Riccardo Calafiori will cost €40 million
Riccardo Calafiori was one of the best performers in Serie A last season, helping Bologna clinch a Champions League place under Thiagop Motta’s leadership. Since the manager has gone on to join Juventus, the Italian international wishes to follow suit and become a part of the camp in Turin.
He has now shown any interest in joining a Premier League side, as there’s considerable interest coming from England. Calafiori is also a big part of the Italian national squad at the Euros and has already made a name for himself after their opening game against Albania.
Tottenham are keen on the defender, as Abnge Postecoglou is keen to utilise the club’s excellent connections in Italy to get a deal done. While earlier reports stated that he might be available for a decent price, Bologna now insists on getting at least €40 million for the 22-year-old defender.
The reason is that Bologna will have to pay his former side, Basel, 50% of any sale proceeds, meaning they are keen to maximise as much as possible. With good enough performances at the Euros, the Serie A side are confident of achieving that price, meaning Tottenham must pay €40 million to stand a chance to sign the Italian international.
Juventus best placed for Calafiori
Juventus had earmarked a €25 million budget to sign Calafiori, but Bologna’s latest demand could make them rethink and possibly enter into negotiations with their Serie A counterparts. With the 22-year-old defender wanting to join the Turin giants, there’s a feeling an agreement could be achieved.
However, there are a host of Premier League sides sniffing around for Calafiori, including Tottenham and Chelsea. As of now, the 22-year-old defender seems inclined towards a move to Juventus, although strange things have happened in the transfer market.
