Arsenal offers Bologna an attractive Riccardo Calafiori deal as crafty Edu proposes transfer swap.

Arsenal may have an ace in the hole in their bid to recruit Bologna’s Riccardo Calafiori, with one player apparently used as a makeweight in a potential trade.

Calafiori has been a long-term Arsenal target, although he has also been connected with Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool, Juventus, and Real Madrid.

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The Serie A club is said to demand £43 million for the Italy international, who impressed for his country at Euro 2024 in recent weeks.

Recruiting him may be difficult, given his obvious brilliance on the European stage. However, this has not prevented Arsenal from apparently reaching personal terms with the 22-year-old.

However, it is unclear whether the left-footer, who is rumored to be interested in joining Mikel Arteta’s side on a five-year contract worth £65,000 per week, would move to Emirates.

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Just because personal arrangements have been agreed upon, Bologna is ready for

Calafiori, whose career was nearly cut short at the age of 16 owing to a devastating knee injury sustained while at Roma in 2018, appears to have found a home at Juventus.

Bologna’s director rules out one move.
According to Bologna director Giovanni Sartori, the centre-back, who was once deemed unsuitable by Jose Mourinho at Roma, may depart this summer.

He told Fabrizio Romano earlier this month: “I don’t think he’ll end up joining Juventus. If we chose to sell him, he may potentially travel abroad. We want to maintain Calafiori, so let’s see what happens.”

The 6ft 2in Italian, whose contract expires in 2027, has previously stated that he would consider a move to the Premier League one day.

In late 2022, he told Italian journal Voce Giallorossa: “I have two images: returning to Italy, possibly in Rome, or playing in the Premier League.” “I really like West Ham or Chelsea.”

According to Italian outlet TuttoBolognaWeb, Arsenal may have a secret weapon in Gunners defender Jakub Kiwior.

The Poland international joined Arsenal from Spezia in January 2023 and has since made 38 appearances for the north London club.

Calafiori is Arsenal’s ‘trump card’
However, the Pole has had to be patient under Arteta, with 14 of his appearances coming off the bench, the majority of which have been at left-back.

Due to his minor position at Arsenal, which may remain next season with the return of left-back Jurrien Timber, Bologna could sign him as part of a Calafiori trade.

According to the source, the Serie A team is interested in the 24-year-old and may offer him a season-long loan with the option to buy in the summer of 2025.

Juventus is also said to be interested in Kiwior, but Arsenal may use him to their advantage in their bid to sign Calafiori in the coming weeks.

Arsenal are likely to have to pay at least £43 million for the Italian, with Basel owing 40% of the sell-on fee. It remains to be seen if they can complete this trade and whether Kiwior will go the opposite way.