Following his stellar performances, despite a torrid campaign for the defending champions, Italy, in the European Championships, Riccardo Calafiori has been linked heavily with moves away from Bologna, with Arsenal, Chelsea and Juventus interested, and I shared my thoughts on the potential transfer.
In as much as I love me a new toy, Arsenal has relatively stocked in the left center back berth with the likes of Jakub Kiwior, Takehiro Tomiyasu, Jurrien Timber all capable of featuring in that position. Calafiori is also adept as a left back, but Arsenal has Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Nuno Tavares in their ranks, making that part of the squad’s ranks quite bloated.
However, it seems like Arsenal is hell bent on getting Calafiori, after it was reported that Arsenal’s initial bid of £40 million has been rejected by Bologna, as it is believed that Bologna want at least, £45 million, for their prized asset. According to transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal is open to selling Kiwior this summer with AC Milan and Juventus interested in his services. Juventus gaffer, Thiago Motta, fancies a reunion with Calafiori, but with Arsenal set to get the Italian defender ahead of them, moving to Kiwior will not be a bad option, as he certainly wouldn’t be as expensive as Calafiori.
Romano also reported that Calafiori has agreed personal terms with Arsenal, so the onus will be on Edu Gaspar and the negotiation chums to finalize an agreement with Bologna for his services, while touching base with the supposedly interested Italian clubs for Kiwior’s imminent departure. It’s fair to say that Kiwior hasn’t lit up any fireworks since his arrival from Spezia in January 2023, he has had his shaky moments on the pitch in the handful of games he has featured for Arsenal. Calafiori will be a decent backup to Gabriel, and can certainly contend with the incumbent left backs for a starting berth.
Still sticking with transfer news, The Athletic has reported that Arsenal is interested in signing Wolverhampton Wanderers backup goalie, Daniel Bentley, to serve as a deputy for David Raya following the completion of his permanent deal with the club. Arsenal was rather reactionary in signing Raya, after Matt Turner moved to Nottingham Forest in search of regular game time, and as we already know, the Spanish goalie usurped Aaron Ramsdale as Arsenal’s No. 1. Rather than wait for Ramsdale to move before signing a replacement, Arsenal targeting Bentley shows that the club is resigned to selling Ramsdale this summer and want to get it done, as well as bed in his replacement with minimal fuss.
Bentley is also a home grown talent with Premier League experience and he’s someone that will certainly be content with a place in the dugout, while hoping to get a chance to strut his stuff in the domestic cup competitions. He’s also capable of filling in for first team action in the wake of any injury concerns to Raya, as he did with Jose Sa at Wolves. He’d also be a relatively cheap signing to make, unlike the potential sale of Ramsdale that would be some good quid.
I love Ramsdale and I hope a gets a club that would start him every week, but Raya is a better goalie and Arteta can be ruthless when he wants to be. I hope things work out well for him in wherever he finds himself after his European Championship sojourns, which has been entirely on the bench.
Euro 2024 semifinal action commences tomorrow and gears will be shifted to that direction, while still keeping tabs with the latest in the Goonersphere.
Sayonara.