RICC ROLL Arsenal make breakthrough in £45m deal for Riccardo Calafiori having been prepared to offer ace as part of swap deal

Defender had been a top target for a fierce Premier League rival

Posted Sunday, July 21, 2024 by Thesun.co.uk

ARSENAL have reportedly made a breakthrough in their £45million deal for Riccardo Calafiori.

The Gunners were locked in negotiations with Bologna this week after struggling to agree terms on a mega-money move.

RICC ROLL Arsenal make breakthrough in £45m deal for Riccardo Calafiori having been prepared to offer ace as part of swap deal
Arsenal are closing in on a £45million deal for Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori Credit: Getty

Calafiori has been in high demand this summer after starring for Italy at the Euros.

And Arsenal were hoping to persuade Bologna to accept cash plus Jakub Kiwior in exchange.

However, the Poland ace was reluctant to move, leaving Arsenal’s deal for Calafiori on a knife edge.

But Fabrizio Romano now claims the Gunners have finally reached a breakthrough in talks.

It’s reckoned Bologna have accepted a £40m bid for their star man, plus an additional £5m in add-ons.

And they will also be entitled to a hefty chunk of Calafiori’s next transfer after a sell-on clause was included.

The centre-back has already agreed person terms with Arsenal, having previously been a target for Chelsea.

And the only thing holding up the deal is a prior agreement between Bologna and Calafiori’s former club Basel.

The Swiss side sold him last summer for just £4m, plus a whopping FIFTY per cent of his next fee.

Bologna remain hopeful of negotiating a lower figure after initially asking Arsenal for more money.

But all parties are confident an agreement will be reached shortly, especially with Bologna now getting a sell-on clause in Calafiori’s Emirates switch.

The defender will become Arsenal's second summer signing after David Raya's loan from Brentford was made permanent.

The Gunners could yet make additions to their midfield.

While Mikel Arteta remains keen on landing a new striker.