Arsenal make major breakthrough towards Calafiori transfer

Suraj Radia

• 12 Jul 2024 11:30 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal’s pursuit of Riccardo Calafiori has taken a major step forward, with Mikel Arteta solving one of the ‘concerns’ that was causing a hold-up in signing the Bologna defender.

Calafiori has been in talks to join Arsenal after his impressive performances at Euro 2024 for Italy and the 22-year-old has already agreed personal terms over a move to the Emirates Stadium.

However, a hold up for Arsenal has been Bologna’s asking price of €50 million, with the large fee partially due to Calafiori’s former side Basel being entitled to 50% of any sell-on.

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal initiate Mikel Merino talks as Arteta targets €25m transfer

David Ornstein of The Athletic also revealed this week that Arteta was having to ease the ‘concerns’ of some figures at Arsenal who felt that the Gunners do not need another left-sided defender.

And it appears that progress has been made on that front after left-back Nuno Tavares agreed to join Lazio on loan, with an obligation to buy for €9m and a sell-on clause.

Tavares is now set to travel to Rome for a medical, allowing Arsenal to clear some of the log jam in his position and potentially giving Arteta more confidence in securing a deal for Calafiori.

More players could follow Tavares out of Arsenal

Tavares leaves Arsenal having only made 22 Premier League appearances for the club since his €8m arrival in 2021.

The 24-year-old was entering the final year of his contract after spending the last two seasons out on loan at Marseille and then Nottingham Forest, with Tavares seemingly having no future at Arsenal.

READ MORE: 10 players who could join Arsenal this summer

The structure of the deal means that Arsenal won’t see the full fee received until next summer, meaning the club will still have to consider the affordability of meeting Bologna’s demands for Calafiori.

However, Arsenal could still sell another left-sided defender to help progress the move, with Jakub Kiwior the subject of interest of multiple Italian teams, although the Gunners reportedly would only entertain a loan with a mandatory buy option.