Arsenal are reportedly expected to complete the signing of Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori in the coming weeks.
The 22-year-old has captured the attention of top outfits across the European game following an impressive term in club football and on the international stage.
Calafiori made 30 Serie A appearances during the 2023-24 campaign as Thiago Motta's troops upset the odds and finished fifth, securing a place in next season's Champions League.
The centre-back's performances in the Italian top flight earned him a call-up to his national side for Euro 2024 in Germany, where Luciano Spalletti's side were gunning for back-to-back continental triumphs.
Despite only making his senior international debut in a warm-up fixture against Turkey in early June, Calafiori started all three of Italy's group matches at the tournament.
![Italy's Riccardo Calafiori on June 24, 2024 [IMAGO]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/riccardo-calafiori.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Italy's Riccardo Calafiori on June 24, 2024 [IMAGO]")
© Imago
Arsenal to complete Calafiori signing 'in coming weeks'
With Bologna head coach Motta jumping ship to Juventus following an excellent season, defender Calafiori is set to do the same, although to the riches of the Premier League, according to Football Insider.
The report claims that the 22-year-old is edging closer to a high-profile transfer to the Gunners, who are expecting to complete the deal in the coming weeks.
It is understood to be a matter of when, not if, Calafiori will put pen to paper in North London, where he will hope to take Arsenal's title push to the next level as they fight Pep Guardiola's Manchester City.
Mikel Arteta's men and the defender are said to have already agreed personal terms, with the player extremely keen on a move to the Premier League challengers.
In the meantime, talks have supposedly been advancing well between Arsenal and Bologna, who are standing firm at their asking price of £42m for Calafiori.
© Reuters
How could Arsenal line up with Calafiori?
Earning plenty of plaudits for his displays at Bologna and Euro 2024 this summer, Calafiori will be expecting regular game time in the Arsenal backline.
However, with the Gunners boasting the strongest defence in the Premier League last season - conceding just 29 goals in 38 matches - will Arteta want to alter his first-choice back four?
The spots of William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes seem relatively secure, so too the place of Ben White, who has been moulded into a top-class right-back at the Emirates.
Being a left-footed player, there is a suggestion that Calafiori could assume a left-back role for Arsenal, with the future of Oleksandr Zinchenko unclear.
Carter White
