Riccardo Calafiori: Arsenal make Italy defender a summer transfer target amid Jorrel Hato interest

Arsenal are interested in Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori, but face competition from Premier League rivals for the centre-back who impressed at Euro 2024.

The Gunners want to sign a left-footed defender and have identified Calafiori as a summer transfer target as they bid to upgrade their backline for next season.

Calafiori enjoyed a fine season for Bologna in Serie A and caught the eye for Italy with his displays at the Euros.

The 22-year-old has been strongly linked with a move to Juventus and is also attracting interest from other English clubs.

Calafiori played in all three of Italy’s group-stage games at the Euros but was suspended for their last-16 defeat to Switzerland this weekend.

Bologna technical director Giovanni Sartori said they want to keep Calafiori but admitted they would consider serious offers.

“There is talk of Juventus but also of many other teams,” said Sartori said. “At this moment we will try to keep him. If important requests were to arrive we will have to think about it.

“I am not saying that we will sell him because the president has said that he wants to keep the whole team, but we will certainly make some evaluations.

“I do not think he will go to Juventus, maybe to a different market, but I repeat that we would like to try to keep him.”

Arsenal are also interested in 18-year-old Ajax defender Jorrel Hato.