Arsenal have been linked with a move for Italian centre-back Riccardo Calafiori, with a deal reportedly close.
according to Fabrizio RomanoArsenal will pay $43.5 million for Calafiori, plus an additional $5.5 million, with Basel and Bologna to adjust the sell-on fee that must be paid to Arsenal.
Athletic It has also been reported that a deal for the 22-year-old defender to move from Bologna to Arsenal is “accelerating”.
Do Arsenal need a new centre-back?
It’s hard to argue that Arsenal need to strengthen their centre-back position when you look at the pairing of Gabriel and William Saliba last season, who boasted the best defence in the Premier League.
Gabriel and Saliba form a formidable partnership at the heart of Arsenal’s defence so it was a bit surprising to see Arsenal splash out on a centre-back, but on closer inspection Calafiori is exactly what Mikel Arteta is looking for in a centre-back.
He will burst out of the backline with the ball like John Stones. Calafioli will give Arsenal the option of a back three, which will be more flexible and tougher for opponents to prepare for. Calafioli will give Arsenal a new dimension because Saliba is good at bursting out of the backline with the ball, which Arsenal’s system doesn’t allow them to do enough, as usually defensive midfielders and fullbacks drop deep into the middle to win the ball and set up attacks.
Calafiori, who has signed a long-term contract, is likely to replace Gabriel alongside Saliba, with the Italy and France internationals aged 22 and 23 respectively, locking them into Arsenal’s centre-back roles for at least the next five years.
