'In the next hours': Romano says there is still one thing needing to be agreed for Arsenal to sign Calafiori
It's almost done... ????
Arsenal have now struck an agreement with Bologna to sign the centre-back Riccardo Calafiori.
It has been the transfer saga of the summer, but Arsenal are finally within touching distance of getting their man.
Mikel Arteta has been made to wait long and hard but Calafiori looks all set to being on his way to becoming the first signing of the summer for the Gunners.
It has now been over two weeks since Calafiori agreed personal terms with Arsenal but the two clubs needed more time to discuss the finances.
Although an agreement is said to be in place between the two clubs, there is still one hurdle for Bologna to overcome before selling their defender.
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One thing needs to be done before Arsenal sign Riccardo Calafiori
Calafiori is believed to have told Bologna to let him fulfill his dream of playing for Arsenal in a bid to help push the deal along.
Talks have been ongoing at Arsenal with Bologna to try and find an agreement which has now been finalised at €40m (£33.7m) plus €5m (£4.2m) in add-ons.
Arsenal are now trying to get the proposed deal for Calafiori done quickly as they will be jetting off for their pre-season tour next week.
But the Gunners may have to be patient with one more step needing to be ticked off by Bologna.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Bologna and FC Basel now need to finalise the details on Calafiori’s sell-on clause.
“What we need to say ‘Here We Go’ it could be later today, later tomorrow. Bologna and Basel – the former club of Calafiori – need to be in touch between today and tomorrow in the next hours about the sell-on clause,” Romano said on Playback.
“Basel had 50% over €4m, so it is a big part of the deal. Bologna and Basel will talk about the payment terms of this 50% in the next hours and then Riccardo Calafiori to Arsenal will be a Here We Go.”
Arsenal look set to sign Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal had no real reason to go into the market to make a significant addition to their defence; they had the best defensive record in the Premier League.
However, that is exactly what Arsenal have done and it will only benefit them in the long run with Calafiori showing his worth during Euro 2024.
What this will allow Arteta to do is rotate his squad more freely as they look to get their hands on a piece of silverware once again.
An injury to Williams Saliba or Gabriel Magalhaes would be a major in north London, but Arteta is now likely to have a centre-back who would be more than capable of replacing either.
It really does look like Arsenal are set to secure one of the signings of the summer.
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