Arsenal ‘CONCERNS’ for blockbuster signing, warns Ornstein

Robin Bairner

11 Jul 2024 11:30 BST
3 min read

Riccardo Calafiori is set to become Arsenal’s first major transfer signing of the summer, yet no agreement has been reached between Bologna and the Emirates club with the Premier League side harbouring some “concerns” over the deal.

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Calafiori, meanwhile, has already agreed personal terms with the Gunners, leaving an agreement between the two clubs all that is necessary for a deal to be completed.

Italy’s Euro 2024 star has give the green light to a five-year contract worth a total of €4 million per season. Given he earns €700,000 per year at Bologna, one year salary at the Gunners represents more than he would earn in five with the Serie A club.

Current ETV

R. Calafiori

D (CL)

Bologna

R. Calafiori

D (CL)

Bologna

ETV Range

€12.9M - €21.5M

But Calafiori’s dream move has stalled, with negotiations between the clubs proving to be “complex”, according to a report from Calciomercato.

Bologna are holding out for €50m and “will not move” from this amount but it is stressed that Arsenal will return and the “deal is not at risk”.

The Italian source reports: “The operation between Bologna and Arsenal is complex for a whole series of reasons: the fixed payment, bonuses, payment methods and the percentage on the future resale of around 40% to be paid to Basel, which has its own influence.

“We still need some time to sort everything out, the deal is not at risk and can be definitively unblocked at any moment.”

ARSENAL TRANSFER NEWS TODAY: Calafiori LATEST, Nico Williams HINT, Euro 2024 star interest CONFIRMED

’Concerns’ over Calafiori at Arsenal – Ornstein

From the perspective of Arsenal and manager Mikel Arteta, the deal is not quite so cut and dried, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein.

“Mikel Arteta set his stool out early. This was a player he would like to sign. He may have to convince some within Arsenal of this to get everybody on board, because I think there are some concerns around whether Arsenal need that position,” he explained on The Athletic FC Podcast.

Ornstein added that Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko may need to be sold before a transfer can be done for Calafiori.