Arsenal transfer stalls as they try to include player in swap deal

Arsenal’s move for Riccardo Calafiori is stalling in part because of unsuccessful attempts to include Jakub Kiwior in a deal, according to a report.

Arsenal have been linked with Riccardo Calafiori for quite a while now, but despite other interested clubs fading from the race, the Gunners are still yet to agree a deal with Bologna for the signing.

Gary Jacob of The Times reports that part of the problem is that Arsenal are trying to use Jakub Kiwior as a makeweight in the deal.

Bologna are keen on Kiwior, Arsenal are evidently willing to let him go to secure Calafiori’s signature, but the player himself is holding out for a move to AC Milan instead.

Jacob adds that wherever Kiwior ends up, Arsenal are keen to make a profit on the initial £17.5m they paid for him.

The simplest way to resolve the problem would be if Kiwior accepted the Bologna move and the Serie A club reduced their asking price by £17.5m or so in return for the centre-back’s inclusion in the deal.

But another potential solution would be if Milan placed a reasonable bid for Kiwior, and Arsenal took that money and included it in a new offer for Calafiori.

Unfortunately, it’s hard to see either of those options panning out right now.

Kiwior evidently prefers to join Milan, making the Bologna option difficult. Then Milan are unlikely to make the kind of reasonable bid Arsenal would accept.

Sky Sport Italia report that Arsenal and Calafiori have an agreement on personal terms, but with club-to-club talks at a standstill, the player will be made available for their pre-season training camp.

Bologna go away for their camp on Monday, July 22nd, and as it stands Calafiori will be involved in that.

Left-footed defender Calafiori made 37 appearances for Bologna in 2023/24, before playing for Italy at Euro 2024. As well as centre-back, the 22-year-old can also play at left-back.

If he eventually joins, Calafiori would be Arsenal’s third or fourth signing of the summer.