Riccardo Calafiori to Arsenal is understood to be hotting up as the Bologna centre-back is now prioritising the Gunners over other interested clubs such as Chelsea, Tottenham and Newcastle.
Sources close to the deal have informed CaughtOffside that Arsenal are now preparing a bid in the region of €50-55m for Calafiori, who is keen to move to the Emirates Stadium as talks reach an advanced stage.
Calafiori has also been targeted by the likes of Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan and Napoli, but it has been the case for some time that Bologna preferred not to sell to a Serie A rival.
Juve were showing a particularly strong interest due to the presence of former Bologna manager Thiago Motta at the Turin outfit, but these negotiations have now hit a standstill.
Arsenal are advancing in talks to agree personal terms with Calafiori on a long-term contract until 2028/29, and they are expected to table an official bid soon.
Calafiori transfer: Arsenal moving ahead of Chelsea in race for Bologna defender
Some reports in Italy have stated that Arsenal already failed with a €47m bid for Calafiori, but it’s not entirely clear if this was a verbal bid or a formal offer submitted to the Serie A club.
Arsenal’s improved bid of €55m is thought to be closer to what Bologna want for the player, so it is anticipated that, if and when it is made, it could have a significant impact on the deal.
Meanwhile, sources have also told CaughtOffside that Chelsea are still very keen on Calafiori, and might also try to enter the conversation soon, even if they are currently understood to be trailing behind Arsenal.
We’ve seen these two London clubs contest major transfer deals like Mykhailo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo in recent times, with Chelsea beating Arsenal to those deals, though it remains to be seen if they can repeat their success with Calafiori now.
The problem is that Arsenal rate Kiwior a lot more higher than Calafiori.
Kiwior is the fastest player in the arsenal team which is unusual for such a big defender, he also has one of the best clean sheet records. So if Calafiori is valued at say £30 million the Kiwior would be valued at £60 million, due to the potential of this unique Polish( yes international) lightning fast versitle defender, who kept France to a one all draw back in 25th June. Sorry to say but the polish international Kiwior is a much better defender than Calafiori.
Calafiori is also quick, whereas Gabriel and Saliba are not. Kiwior and Calafiori are also versatile whereas Gabriel and Saliba are not. Timber Tomiyasu and White are also quicker and more versatile than Saliba and Gabriel.
I am not saying Saliba and Gabriel are in danger of losing their places. But it would be fantastic to have 5 players that can play a multitude of positions including inverted full back and #6 if necessary, rather than players like cedric, Elneny Lokonga and Tierney who are/were very much 1 position players.
Saliba is versatile, and he is quick too. In which game did you see him losing for pace?
Saliba is lightning quick and prob best def in the world, do you even watch football
The sense I get though regarding Kiwior is that he’s not entirely comfortable being a bit-part player and since Juventus could be interested in his services, he is keen to move. Everything you said about him is accurate and add to that he already has some EPL experience under his belt makes him a better option at LB)LCB. Calafiori comes with good experience in Serie A and Italy national team. That and his age make him very attractive
What????? Arsenal do not rate kiwior higher than caliifiori, what are you talking about
This cannot be happening and makes no sense, unless they sell Kiwior.
The problem is that Arsenal rate Kiwior a lot more higher than Calafiori.
Kiwior is the fastest player in the arsenal team which is unusual for such a big defender, he also has one of the best clean sheet records.
So if Calafiori is valued at say £30 million then Kiwior would be valued at £60 million, due to the potential of this unique Polish ( yes international) lightning fast versitle defender.
Kiwior helped Poland in defence, who kept France to a one all draw back in 25th June.
So sorry to say, but the polish international Kiwior is a much better defender than Calafiori and the value comparison makes no sense.
Are you smoking crack? Kiwior a better def than califiori 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
Nobody is going to pay £60 million for Jakub Kiwior, especially in the Serie A. The dude may be good, but he hasn’t played much since he joined Arsenal 18 months ago. I don’t Arsenal has to sell Kiwior even if they get Calafiori. Top left-footed players aren’t much out there, and getting Calafiori is an absolute steal, especially due to his versatility. We’re losing Tierney and Tavarez, and Calafiori is a good replacement for both, considering that he can play at left-back too. Nobody is mentioning the fact that Kiwior can play in the midfield ahead of Calafiori. For me, amongst Kiwior, Zinchenko and Calafiori, I’d say it’s about time we sold Zinchenko. Arsenal is moving away from where they were two years ago to a more defensive solidity as evident in how they played last season.
Zinchenko, for me, is going to be liability in this new system going forward. Except of course, Arteta finds a new role for him up the field. That’s not looking like it except he wants to go back to a double-pivot midfield. And we know that’s not going to happen except in rare cases. It’s a 4-3-3, and in that midfield three, only one space is left because Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard are sure starters. And I think Kiwior can grow into that Xhaka role, going up the field. On the alternative, he can interswitch with Declan Rice if Rice plays as an half-8 while Kiwior plays as a 6. I’d also like to see a game that has both Calafiori and Kiwior playing, alongside William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhães and Ben White.
Finally, I think Arteta need to establish another dominant Full-back pair, say Takehiro Tomiyasu and Calafiori.
DaveG is talking g oure nonsense. Kiwior although much improved is still a liability at left back and lcb against pacy wingers. He is not fast at all, in fact it’s one of his major limitations amd is one of the major reasons for tue Calafiori upgrade. In any event it’s Zinchenko most at risk, not Kiwior.
Time for him to leave and go support his transvestite war monger deep state illegal coup detat planted president elsewhere
The other guy is cluless, kiwior is not even in the same league as califiori, its not even close. Kiwior is ok, califiori is top qualty and super progressive which kiwior is not
Thankfully, this deal will end up in Arsenal’s favor!