Chelsea are prepared to salvage the move for Riccardo Calafiori by offering a higher salary package and fast forward the process.
The 22-year-old defender is wanted not only by Arsenal but by many reputed clubs in European football.
Alfredo Pedulla, an important Italian journalist, was first to talk about this news.
Many top European clubs have seen the defender sparkle so brightly this season, having made a return to Italy just the previous summer.
Playing for Bologna, Calafiori has made 33 appearances, scoring two goals and registering five assists throughout this campaign.
He recently made it to Italy’s main team and has been playing great in Euro 2024.
Plus, both Arsenal and Chelsea want him on their side to play in the Premier League.
Chelsea aimed to boost their defense with a better deal for Calafiori, especially as Thiago Silva might leave Chelsea for free.
Also, there’s doubt around Benoit Badiashile and Trevoh Chalobah’s future roles.
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Chelsea needs defensive players, and this improved offer just depicts how Chelsea is serious in acquiring services from Calafiori.
On the other hand, Arsenal is also in need of a reliable center-back, even more so now that the future of Jakub Kiwior is uncertain.
Calafiori would perfectly fill the spot for the Gunners, who are keen to strengthen their defensive ranks. Arsenal has expressed great interest in the young Italian’s signature.
As of now, with the summer transfer window just heating up, there will be a transfer battle between Chelsea and Arsenal over Calafiori.
It will remain to be seen if Calafiori will be lured into making the move with Chelsea’s lucrative offer or if Arsenal will be able to pull off getting his signature.
Probably, the move of the defender to the Premier League will be one of the most followed sagas of the summer.
Calafiori’s switch would finally break the duck at Arsenal, which, in this still and quiet summer transfer market, has been linked to a number of players.
And Mikel Arteta with sports director Edu Gaspar are toiling hard to beef up the Arsenal squad and change it into a title-contending team in the Premier League.
Also Italian journalist Tancredi Palmeri declares that Arsenal is really close to completing the signing of Calafior.
In fact, this Italian youngster over the course of Euro 2024 has become a hot property and attracted interest from other Premier League sides like West Ham, Chelsea, and Newcastle.
Already rated ‘world-class‘ by XValue, Calafiori’s displays would tempt the very best of clubs, but it seems that Arsenal will lead the challenge for his signature even over Juventus.
