Fabrizio Romano Transfer News: Calafiori CLOSE to Arsenal, De Ligt GREEN LIGHT, Olise HIJACK?

Robin Bairner

5 Jul 2024 07:02 BST
6 min read

Fabrizio Romano, the football transfer news expert, has given an update on the stories making the headlines, including Arsenal’s move for Riccardo Calafiori, Manchester United seeking to sign Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern Munich and Michael Olise.

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Arsenal looking good to sign Calafiori

Calafiori’s proposed transfer from Bologna to Arsenal has been a major topic over the course of the last week, and Romano outlined exactly where this move stands.

Chelse and Juventus have also been linked with the Italy Euro 2024 star, but it is the Gunners who are ahead in the race.

Current ETV

Riccardo Calafiori

D (CL)

Bologna

Riccardo Calafiori

D (CL)

Bologna

ETV Range

€12.9M - €21.5M

“In the last 24 hours, Arsenal made contact on the club side with Riccardo Calafiori. There are talks now ongoing between Arsenal and Bologna. Still waiting for an official bid and an agreement,” Romano told his YouTube channel.

“The player has given a green light to Arsenal in terms of contract and project, and he’s looking forward to working under Mikel Arteta, who is a big fan of Calafiori. Arsenal have sent their scouts multiple times to follow the player. He’s considered a proper talent for the left-back or centre-back.

“The relationship with Bologna and Arsenal is very good, but still no agreement. Bologna want something like €50-55 million.

“The other club monitoring the situation is Chelsea, but no official bid there. Arsenal are ahead. Juventus are out of the race. Their relationship with Bologna is very complicated.”

What’s happening with Olise?

Michael Olise seemed to have completed a move to Bayern Munich a couple of weeks ago, yet the trail has since gone cold for the Crystal Palace star, who was wanted by Arsenal, Manchester United and, most notably Chelsea.

It came as something of a surprise when Bayern swooped, but after apparently securing a deal, there has been silence. So what’s happened?

Is there a club trying to hijack this transfer?

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Michael Olise

M (C)

C. Palace

Michael Olise

M (C)

C. Palace

ETV Range

€33.5M - €55.9M

“What we can tell you is that Michael Olise will have the first part of his Bayern medical on Sunday,” Romano said. “Right after that, he’ll sign his contract until 2029.

“Why all this time? Because when Bayern talked to Crystal Palace, €55m plus €5m in add ons, what happened was that Palace revealed that by triggering the release clause, they will also have a percentage on the future sale of Michael Olise, understood to be between 10-15%. This is why he’s a big topic with Bayern.

“Now everything is OK between Bayern and Palace. The problem was not other clubs trying to hijack, but the issue was between Bayern and Palace on the sell on clause.”

Man Utd get encouraging De Ligt news

Another transfer in which the progress is slow but ongoing is Matthijs de Ligt’s switch from Bayern Munich to Man Utd.

Romano says that there is currently no prospect of PSG swooping in to complete a deal, as rumoured in some quarters.

“Contact between Manchester United and Bayern continues over Matthijs de Ligt,” he affirmed.

© IMAGO - Matthijs de Ligt and partner Annekee Molenaar

“Bayern want to sign Jonathan Tah and are confident of signing him, and Man Utd keep discussing the structure of the deal over De Ligt. They want to include adds ons in the package, so they’re formulating the best proposal possible.

“They already have the green light of the player. Matthijs de Ligt wants to go to Man Utd.

“The reports about PSG… the intention of De Ligt is very clear: it’s Man Utd, it’s the Premier League, it’s Erik ten Hag, who is a manager who will finally trust him after many difficult years for a fantastic defender. Contact is ongoing between the clubs.”

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Matthijs de Ligt

D (C)

Bayern

Matthijs de Ligt

D (C)

Bayern

ETV Range

€39.6M - €65.9M

Kimmich and Chiesa bargains

Romano indicated that Juventus star Federico Chiesa and Bayern stalwart Joshua Kimmich are both on the market this summer.

The pair represent potential bargains for buying clubs as they are both entering the final year of their contracts.

“Kimmich could leave this summer,” Romano said.

“There is Premier League interest and there is, as reported by French media, interest from PSG. It is real. It is genuine. It does not depend on Joao Neves, who PSG love. But at the moment Joao Neves is very expensive, €120m. But it’s a separate story. PSG appreciate both players.

“Neves is very expensive, Kimmich is out of contract in a year and doesn’t have that kind of crazy release clause and so the situation is quite dangerous for Bayern.

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Joshua Kimmich

D (R), DM (C)

Bayern

Joshua Kimmich

D (R), DM (C)

Bayern

ETV Range

€39.6M - €66M

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Federico Chiesa

F (C)

Juventus

Federico Chiesa

F (C)

Juventus

ETV Range

€20.7M - €34.5M

“The decision of Juventus has been made: Federico Chiesa is set to leave this summer. At least, this is the plan of the club. They want to sell him.

“The opinion of the manager Thiago Motta on Chiesa is quite clear: he wants a different winger. Juventus are not counting on two players: Wojciech Szczesny the goalkeeper and Chiesa the winger.

“Chiesa is expected to be sold for something like €20-25m. Why that cheap? The player is out of contract in 2025 and there’s no agreement on a new contract. Keep an eye on several options. It’s a big opportunity on the market.”

West Ham complete Kilman deal

Romano has indicated that West Ham are in position to complete a deal for Wolves’ Max Kilman in a transfer that will delight new Hammers boss Julen Lopetegui.

“Important signing in the centre-back position for West Ham because now the deal is done for Max Kilman. It’s agreed between West Ham and Wolves,” Romano said. “He’ll cost £40m, there’s an agreement with the player and the medical is done.

“Max Kilman will be the signing that Julen Lopetegui wanted because he knows the player so well.”