Arsenal are closing in on a major addition to Mikel Arteta’s squad with Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori nearing a move to North London.
The Gunners have invested heavily in defensive options throughout Mikel Arteta’s time in charge.
Gabriel Magalhaes, Ben White, Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior and Jurrien Timber have all been brought in under Arteta.
That focus has helped Arsenal become one of the meanest defences in Europe with William Saliba – signed months before Arteta’s arrival – becoming the star of the show.
Arsenal aren’t content to just sit back and relax though and are now ready to invest in another defensive option ahead of the new Premier League season.
HITC understands that Arsenal are willing to let Zinchenko, Kiwior and Kieran Tierney move on this summer, should offers arrive.
Unsurprisingly, Arsenal are now pushing for another left-footed defender as a result…
Angelo Ogbonna ơn Arsenal-bound Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal have been chasing Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori for weeks now and a deal appears close.
HITC understands that Arsenal have now reached an agreement in principle for Calafiori’s signature.
There are still some details to thrash out, potentially even a renegotiation of Basel’s 50% sell-on clause on Calafiori.
The Italian defender is expected to arrive at the Emirates Stadium soon enough and join a limited list of Italians to turn out for Arsenal.
One is currently in the squad in Jorginho, but the likes of Emiliano Viviano, Vito Mannone and Arturo Lupoli may not live long in the memory.
Calafiori will hope for a long and successful time in the Premier League, just like Angelo Ogbonna.
The former West Ham United defender spent nine years in the Premier League and racked up more than 200 appearances for West Ham, even winning a European trophy alongside Declan Rice in East London.
Ogbonna has now been asked for his verdict on Newcastle United’s Sandro Tonali and Calafiori as he prepares to join forces with Rice at Arsenal.
Ogbonna told Corriere dello Sport that he just wants to see Tonali back on the pitch and thriving again having been banned for betting breaches last season.
The veteran defender then turned to Calafiori, urging him to be himself and play just as he has in Serie A; that is the ‘only way’ to deal with the pressure of being an expensive addition for Arsenal.
“I don’t know Sandro, I haven’t heard from him, but I hope he gets back on the pitch soon,” said Ogbonna. “For me it’s essential to have people around you who help you and I think that’s the case for him. Unfortunately today, social media and smartphones amplify everything and make it harder not to fall into certain stupidities. That’s why I’m very careful with my children too.”
“Calafiori, on the other hand, just has to think about playing as he knows how and being himself. It’ll be the only way to not feel the pressure of the cost of his contract,” he added.
Ogbonna knows what it takes to stick around in the Premier League.
Remarkably, Gianfranco Zola is the only Italian to have made more Premier League appearances than Ogbonna.
Whilst he may not have reached Arsenal’s level, Ogbonna made England a real home for himself – something some Italian players have struggled with over the years.
If Calafiori can match Ogbonna’s longevity in the Premier League, then he will have been doing something right – and Arsenal will have surely received value for money from their outlay.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
