Arsenal are favourites to win the race to sign Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna with the defender having given the green light to a move to the Emirates.
Mikel Arteta’s side have opened negotiations with Bologna over a deal to sign the in-demand defender, who starred as the Italian side secured a shock fifth-place finish and Champions League qualification in Serie A last season.
Calafiori featured three times for Italy at Euro 2024 and developments on his future are set to accelerate following the Azzurri’s elimination from the tournament.
Fabrizio Romano has revealed that Calafiori has given the ‘green light’ to a transfer to North London and there are expected to be no issues on personal terms. Chelsea remain interested in a deal for the left-sided centre-back but have not made a bid at this stage.
Bologna value Calafiori at around €50m (£42.3m) and will owe a significant part of that sum to FC Basel, who submitted a sell-on clause in the £5m deal that took the defender to Italy last summer.
Calafiori scored twice and provided five assists from centre-back in Serie A last season, while he ranked sixth in the division for aerial duels won and interceptions.
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