Journalist has provided update on Arsenal’s move for Riccardo Calafiori as things get ‘messy’

Thu 11 July 2024 18:35, UK

EXCLUSIVE from Graeme Bailey

Given Arsenal’s appetite to conclude a move for Riccardo Calafiori, some sources in Italy expected that a deal would already be concluded by now.

However, as we near the end of Euro 2024, Calafiori is still a Bologna player and Arsenal are yet 𝐆to announce a new signing this summer.

David Raya’s permanent move from B꧑rentford has been confirmed, but Arsenal supporters will eventually want to see fre🐎sh arrivals, too.

That being said, TBR Football can now share so🃏me insight into why Ars💦enal’s deal for Calafiori is being delayed, and what Bologna are now demanding.

TBR understands tha✅t Arsenal’s move for Calafiori isn’t moving as fas♔t as some sources have recently suggested.

Bologna are demanding €50m for their defender and won’t accept a deal spread o🦋ver a long period – which has become typical in the era of FFP and PSR.

Bologna owe half of any fee recouped for Calafiori to Basel, who they signed the𝕴 defender from only last summer.

Bologna will lose 50% of their profits on Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee

After coming through the Roma academy, Calafiori left Italian fo🥂otball after a series of injuries disrupted his progress at his boyhood club.

And when bringing him home, Bologna include🌺d a clause surrendering 50% of any future profit on Calafiori, meaning they would only part with a modest fee for the 22-ye✃ar-old initially.

TBR understands that it’s the same situation with Joshua Zirkzee, who looks set to🌱 join Manchester United from B🌌ologna this summer too.

Basel are only getting 50% of the profits on any deal for Zirkzee as well, expla🔜ining why things have become ‘messy’.

Arsenal have done their work on Calafiori and they feel🍬 he is the best option, but will only conclude if the deal is right from them.

Edu and Mikel Arteta have already shown a willingness to walk away from significant targets if they feel value is not being achieved,꧅ as was the case with Mykhaylo Mudryk in the past.

Of course, some Arsenal fans may then wonder why the club don’t appear to be so defiant in negotiations for players leaving the club – having often ꧃failed to recoup satisfac𒐪tory fees.

And in a summer in which Arsenal might sell Eddie Nketiah and Aaron Ramsdale among others, it’s im🍸por💦tant that the Gunners begin to get it right.

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Journalist has provided update on Arsenal’s move for Riccardo Calafiori as things get ‘messy’

Bologna will lose 50% of their profits on Riccardo Calafiori and Joshua Zirkzee