Arsenal are closing in on the signing of Riccardo Calafiori as Mikel Arteta prepares to make another major addition to his back line at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners have predominantly focused on signing goalkeepers so this summer.
Young prospect Lucas Nygaard came in from FC Nordsjaelland before Arsenal turned David Raya’s loan move from Brentford permanent.
Arsenal then pounced to sign another stopper as Tommy Setford arrived from Ajax on Sunday.
With a full complement of shot-stoppers now on board, Arsenal are turning the attention back towards defensive additions.
Mikel Arteta has invested big money in defenders at Arsenal with Ben White, Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes, Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko all arriving.
Another addition is now imminent with Arsenal agreeing a deal in principle to sign Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori.
Taulant Xhaka on Riccardo Calafiori
Italy international Calafiori impressed at Euro 2024 and offers Arsenal real flexibility as a left back of left-sided centre back.
Calafiori also becomes the latest former Basel player to turn out for Arsenal.
Mohamed Elneny made the move direct from Basel to Arsenal but Granit Xhaka headed from Switzerland to London via Borussia Monchengladbach.
Calafiori is doing the same having swapped Basel for Bologna last summer and will now become an Arsenal player very soon.
The 22-year-old actually played alongside Xhaka’s brother Taulant during his time at Basel.
Calafiori played 24 games with Xhaka during just one season in Switzerland, winning 11 times – but three were on penalties.
Xhaka witnessed Calafiori’s development at Basel and told Blick that he felt the defender had made ‘great progress’ under Heiko Vogel.
Xhaka pointed that out, despite strong criticism, Vogel had developed the likes of Zeki Amdouni, Andy Diouf, Wouter Bouger and Dan Ndoye alongside Calafiori brilliantly.
The veteran midfielder felt that Calafiori and co were players that other Basel talents should look at and look to emulate having developed well and moved abroad.
“To be honest, yes. After the second leg of the quarter-final against Nice, I asked him to stay as coach. But I understood that he wanted more peace and quiet after the intense months. Let’s be honest: Amdouni, Diouf, Calafiori, Burger, Ndoye – all made great progress under Heiko and then moved abroad. If our current players are prepared to listen to Heiko, they can do it too,” said Xhaka.
Xhaka will now watch on as Calafiori makes the same move as his brother, heading to the Emirates Stadium.
Granit became a fan favourite at Arsenal – admittedly with some tough times along the way – but he truly loves the Gunners.
Calafiori will hope to follow in his footsteps in terms of longevity and popularity, with Taulant no doubt wishing him all the best in North London.
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