Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori has been linked with a move away from the Serie A club this summer, with Arsenal and Chelsea interested in him.
Arsenal and Chelsea are keen on signing Riccardo Calafiori, and the 22-year-old reportedly prefers a move to Arsenal. According to Gianluca Di Marzio on Sky Sports, the young defender has informed Chelsea that he would like to join Arsenal instead. The development will come as a major boost for Arsenal, who have been hoping to bring in a quality central defender.
“If [Arsenal] get Calafiori, they will have the perfect Premier League defender. He’s the perfect defender for Mikel Arteta, for Pep Guardiola,” Di Marzio told Sky Sports. “With Italian defenders you think they only want to defend but, no, he plays for the team and he’s modern.
“He has a high price because Bologna wants €50m + bonus + percentage and Arsenal are a bit under but I think they will do the deal because he wants Arsenal. In his mind there is only Arsenal. Even Chelsea tried to get him but the player said ‘no I want Arsenal’ because Arsenal are considered as the perfect step by him and his agents.”
The Gunners were quite impressive defensively last season. But they need to improve further if they want to win major trophies. Calafiori would be a quality long-term investment, and he could form a solid partnership with William Saliba at the heart of the defence.
The Italian international defender has all the attributes to develop into a world-class defender with the right guidance and coaching. Mikel Arteta could be the ideal manager to nurture him. The Spanish manager has done well to groom talented young players at Arsenal, and he could play a key role in the development of the Italian international as well.
Arsenal would be the ideal destination for Calafiori
Arsenal are one of the biggest clubs in the Premier League right now, and they have been pushing for major trophies consistently. The opportunity to play for them will be attractive for most players. Calafiori will hope to help them win major trophies in the coming seasons.
Meanwhile, Chelsea need to bring in a quality central defender as well, especially after the departure of Thiago Silva, with Calafiori emerging as a viable target. The Brazilian left the club upon the expiry of his contract earlier this summer, and he will need to be replaced adequately. It remains to be seen whether Chelsea can bring in the right reinforcements before the window closes.
