Arsenal table offer for Riccardo Calafiori with Italy and Bologna star 'open' to Emirates transfer - but Chelsea could provide stiff competition

The Gunners have approached the centre-back with a long-term plan that Sky Sport in Italy claims is more intriguing to him than the offers presented by the likes of Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen. According to La Gazzetta dello Sport, Liverpool, West Ham and Juventus are also interested in the Italy international, but have not made concrete offers so far.

The north London team are hopeful of reaching an agreement with the 22-year-old by the end of the week, the report says, while Fabrizio Romano claims that he is open to joining the Gunners and that they and Chelsea are the only teams in talks with him.

Calafiori has been a key figure for Bologna since joining from Swiss side Basel last year. He featured 33 times in all competitions as the team, then coached by current Juve boss Thiago Motta, qualified for the Champions League. He also made his national team debut in early June before playing in all three of Italy's Euro 2024 group stage matches, but was suspended for their last-16 loss to Switzerland last week.

The ex-Roma and Genoa player will have to consider his options as Arsenal and Chelsea attempt to lure him to the English capital and will hope that an agreement can be reached with Bologna, where his contract runs until 2027.