Advertisement

Arsenal €47m bid rejected for 22-year-old Italian

Daily Cannon
·2 min read
Arsenal €47m bid rejected for 22-year-old Italian
Arsenal €47m bid rejected for 22-year-old Italian

Arsenal have had a €47 million bid for Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori rejected, according to Italian newspaper Corriere dello Sport.

The Gunners are keen to add the 22-year-old Italian international to their squad, but the Serie A club is holding out for a higher fee.

CALAFIORI ARSENAL OR CHELSEA From London came the proposal monstre for the defender The rossoblu falter The Gunners have offered 47 million to give Arteta the defender Ready the revival of the Blues: Bologna hopes in the auction to get to 50 Sartori on Bi Bi Corriere dello Sport3 Jul 2024 GETTY Riccardo Calafiori, 22 years old, this season 33 games and 2 goals in Bologna 5 appearances in the National team The Premier League launches on the jewels of Bologna: Arsenal is already ready to invest 47 million euros to buy the card of Riccardo Calafiori. The offer started from London in the direction of Casteldebole, but the Rossoblu management at the moment wants more money to surrender the card of his 22-year-old defender, who just this summer, after the Champions League season with Bologna, made his debut with the National team playing as a starter in the European Championship in Germany, with the exception of the game against Switzerland, when he was disqualified. In favor of Bologna plays the duel all London with Chelsea: even the Blues want Calafiori and with their relaunch you can get to 50 million of the starting price. But if Manchester United, which is assessing internally whether to close the operation Joshua Zirkzee, contacted personally by the coach of the Red Devils Ten Hag, can engage the attacker, once agreement has been reached with the attorney, paid, by the 15th of August, the clause from € 40 million, Arsenal and Chelsea to be treated for strength with Claudio Fenucci, Giovanni Sartori and Marco Di Vaio. OFFER. And at that figure, still below, albeit 3 million euros, the 50 million for now required to start a negotiation. Also because, in the event of a sale, 40% of the amount collected by Bologna will be diverted into the coffers of Basel, which signed him in the summer of 2022 from Rome. Tiago Pinto, the Giallorossi e gm gm, let him leave for about 2 million euros and two seasons later the value rose to 50 million. Even Motta had tried to take him with him to the J The company would not go there and it was confirmed Monday evening also Giovanni Sartori, present in Rimini at the opening event of the transfer market. "I don't think he will go to the J "At this time we will try to keep it. If important requests come we will have to think about it, I do not say that we will give it, because the president has exposed himself saying that he wants to keep the whole team, but certainly some evaluations we will make". Now it is done under Arsenal that in the summer of 2021 from Bologna bought Tomercato's card paying him about 20 million euros plus bonuses. This time the management of the Gunners for Rossoblu Calafiori offered 47, receiving a" no " as an answer from Bologna, which will only hesitate in the face of a possible other revival, Arsenal or at this point Chelsea. In recent days, after the return to Italy of Calafiori, the Rossoblu company had also spoken with Riccardo also available to stay, but during the everything can change and it is for this reason that Sartori and Di Vaio are closely monitoring the central defenders. CENTRAL MARKET. The most welcome profiles are those of slovAka BijOl, Slovenian national Udinese, Leonardo Balerdi, Argentine of 25 years that Marseille a year ago declared incediable, but that is now willing to let go after accelerating for Lilian Brassier, which was another possible target of the rossoblu, and Marin Pongracic, 26 year old Lecce. For the mouth of Corvino for the Salento it would be difficult to hold him if Marin asked to be sold. At Basel will go 40% of the amount that the Rossoblu will collect Brassier a step away from Marseille who can surrender the Argentine

Bologna sporting director Giovanni Sartori confirmed the club’s stance, stating, “At this time, we will try to keep Calafiori. If important requests come we will have to think about it, I do not say that we will give it, because the president has exposed himself saying that he wants to keep the whole team, but certainly some evaluations we will make.”

The report suggests that Bologna are hoping to spark a bidding war for Calafiori, with Chelsea also reportedly interested in the defender. The Blues could potentially offer more than Arsenal’s initial bid, pushing the transfer fee closer to €50 million, although they cannot offer Champions League football.

After signing Calafiori last summer for just €4m, Bologna owe 40% of any transfer fee to his former club, FC Basel by way of a hefty sell-on clause.

LEIPZIG, GERMANY: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy celebrates after Mattia Zaccagni of Italy (not pictured) scores his team's first goal during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Croatia and Italy at Football Stadium Leipzig on June 24, 2024. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images for FIGC)

Arsenal’s interest in Calafiori is not surprising, given his impressive performances for Bologna last season. The versatile defender made 33 appearances for the Serie A club, scoring two goals, and earned a call-up to the Italian national team for Euro 2024 where he was one of few Italians to standout.

Calafiori’s ability to play both as a centre-back and a left-back makes him an attractive option for Arsenal, who are looking to strengthen their defensive options. The Gunners have already conducted business with Bologna in the past, having signed Takehiro Tomiyasu from the Italian club in 2021 and could be hoping that relationship helps them now.

While Arsenal’s initial bid has been rejected, the club is expected to return with an improved offer in the coming days according to the report from Italy. With Chelsea also in the mix, it remains to be seen whether Arsenal will be able to secure Calafiori’s signature this summer.

However, the Gunners’ willingness to spend big on the young defender demonstrates their ambition to compete for top honours in the upcoming season.

  • Advertisement
  • Advertisement
  • Advertisement
  • Advertisement
  • Advertisement
  • Advertisement
  • Advertisement