The recruitment team at Arsenal is currently keeping a close eye on Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori and considering whether to enter the race for his signature. Despite strong interest from Juventus, Arsenal is not the only team interested in signing the 22-year-old.
Calafiori had a successful season with Bologna, making 33 appearances and earning his first call-up to the Italian national team. Bologna finished fifth in Serie A, and Calafiori played in all three of Italy’s group stage games at Euro 2024. However, he was suspended for the round of 16 knockout tie against Switzerland, which resulted in Italy’s 2-0 loss.
Giovanni Sartori, the technical director of Bologna, has stated that there is a desire to keep Calafiori at the club, but they will consider any serious offers that may come their way. While Juventus is a prominent contender, there are several other teams interested in Calafiori. Sartori mentioned that they would like to keep him, but if significant offers are made, they will have to evaluate their options.
If Arsenal were to pursue Calafiori, it could raise questions about the future of Poland center-back Jakub Kiwior at the club. Kiwior has been linked to a return to Italy in recent months and could add further uncertainty to his tenure at Arsenal if significant offers are made for Calafiori. To access more award-winning British journalism, you can try The Telegraph for free for three months with unrestricted access to their website and exclusive app money-saving offers among others.
