Mikel Arteta tends to demand a few attributes from his centre-halves at Arsenal.
The Gunners boss likes those capable of taking the ball under threat, rendering the opposition’s high press moot with line-breaking passes or by dribbling out of defence and into the relative safety of midfield.
He likes versatile defenders too.
Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jakub Kiwior have all arrived at Arsenal on his watch. All three have played in a variety of roles during their time at the Emirates Stadium, joining as centre-halves but spending much of their time at full-back.
Riccardo Calafiori, then, feels very much like the natural next step for an Arsenal side hoping to further hone Arteta’s methods while backing their boss with the funds to make a long-awaited Premier League title theirs.
HITC understands that Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Calafiori for around £34 million.
Arsenal near £34m Riccardo Calafiori deal with Bologna
One of the very few players who came out of Italy’s disastrous Euro 2024 campaign with his reputation enhanced, the assist Calafiori produced for Mattia Zaccagni in the dying seconds of that 1-1 draw with Croatia both summed up why Arsenal want him, and while Bologna are so disappointed to see him go.
Calafiori picks up the ball deep in the pitch and drives forwards, shrugging the opposition out of his way before playing a clever, perfectly-weighted pass into Zaccagni’s feet.
Some of the very best centre-halves in Arsenal’s modern history were renowned not only for their defensive attributes but for their footwork too. Calafiori – dubbed the ‘ideal’ addition by World Cup winner Marco Matarazzi and tipped to reach the very top of the European game – continues that proud tradition.
According to Fabrizio Romano, the buccaneering 22-year-old should arrive in England today before undergoing a medical with Arsenal.
And, amid reports suggesting that the Gunners could then turn to another Italy international in Juventus winger Federico Chiesa, Gunners hero Paul Merson can hardly hide his excitement.
Writing on his official X account, Merson feels that Calafiori ‘would be a brilliant signing’.
Chiesa would be more of a risk – the jet-heeled wideman has struggled for consistency during an injury-hit few years post-Euro 2020 – but the raw talent he possesses is nothing short of fearsome.
Another exciting season ahead at the Emirates
It remains to be seen what sort of role Calafiori will play at Arsenal.
Some have suggested that the former Roma man will be utilised in a left-back role, allowing Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba to continue their rock-solid partnership at the heart of defence.
Calafiori would replace Kiwior in that spot. The former appears to possess the kind of ball-carrying swagger that the latter lacks too, with HITC reporting that Arsenal would now consider moving Kiwior on just 18 months after he arrived from Spezia.
Bologna CEO, Claudio Fenucci, appeared to confirm Calafiori’s imminent ‘departure’ on Friday, speaking to Tuttomercatoweb.
He also admitted that talks are underway to bring in veteran Mats Hummels as his replacement.
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