Calafiori to Arsenal imminent: Romano reveals Gunners’ next transfer target

Robin Bairner

• 26 Jul 2024 09:05 BST
• 3 min read

Arsenal are expected to make Riccardo Calafiori’s transfer from Bologna official in the coming days, yet the Gunners are not about to stop their market with the arrival of the Italy international, as Fabrizio Romano has explained.

Mikel Arteta’s side are completing the formalities to secure Calafiori’s signature, with the 22-year-old poised to sign a five-season deal with the Emirates club after completing a move worth €45 million (€40m upfront) from the Serie A club.

The Italy star will plug the hole in defence that Arteta wants to fill, but the Arsenal manager has a further-reaching summer transfer plan, as Romano detailed.

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal open transfer talks to sign Euro 2024 star Fabian Ruiz

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Romano said: “Arsenal are formally completing the deal for Calafiori. It’s done, it’s here we go. We’re wating for the formal steps. He’ll be in London for his medical then he will complete everything in the USA.

“After Calafiori, the focus will be on the midfield. Obviously for Arsenal, it’s important to make some sales in midfield as well as something in defence. We know that Emile Smith Rowe is close to Fulham, that they’re working on a deal with Eddie Nketiah to go to Marseille, so they’re working on several outcomes.

“But Arsenal want to add one more midfielder this summer. Mikel Merino remains a strong option. They’ve had contact on the player side but they’ve still not presented any proposal to Real Sociedad.

“Arsenal like to work deal by deal. They’ll work to close out Calafiori and then they’ll start negotiations for Merino.”

EXCLUSIVE: Arsenal in pole position to sign Mikel Merino

Merino and Ruiz wanted

FootballTransfers exclusively revealed on Wednesday that Arsenal are the favourites to land Spain Euro 2024 star Merino in a deal from Real Sociedad.

Negotiations might not have started in a formal style but contact has been made between the two clubs.

However, there could be a complication over the length of the contract Arsenal is willing to offer him.

Meanwhile, FootballTransfers has also revealed the Gunners are chasing PSG midfielder Fabian Ruiz, who also shone with Spain as they won Euro 2024.