Arsenal take huge step forward in bid to sign Italy star Riccardo Calafiori as defender requests Bologna exit

Calafiori has already reached an agreement on personal terms with Arsenal, settling on a five-year contract that will see him earn €4 million annually. However, the final hurdle remains: reaching a conclusive agreement with Bologna regarding the transfer fee.

According to Corriere di Bologna, if Arsenal fails to finalise the deal swiftly, Calafiori is expected to rejoin Bologna for pre-season training. This places additional pressure on Arsenal to expedite negotiations and secure the defender's services before he resumes duties with his current team.

However, according to Resto del Carlino, Bologna are already in the market for a new defender, anticipating Calafiori's impending departure after he put in a transfer request to the management. Initially, Arsenal's bid included €45 million (£38/$49m) plus €5 million in bonuses. Bologna, however, is holding out for a straight €50 million (£42/$54m) transfer fee. Moreover, it has been reported that the Serie A side is also adamant to include a massive 40-50 per cent sell-on clause in the deal.

With Calafiori keen on the move and personal terms already settled, it seems a matter of time before Arsenal makes the necessary adjustments to secure the deal. Securing his services would be a significant coup for Arsenal, bolstering their defensive options ahead of the new season. The Italian defender is known for his versatility and ability to play both as a centre-back and a left-back. Hence, his arrival would provide Mikel Arteta with more tactical flexibility while setting up his backline.