Arsenal are on the cusp of fully finalising a deal for Riccardo Calafiori, beating out serious competition from clubs across Europe.
The Gunners are only a step away from signing the 22-year-old Italian defender after agreeing to pay a fixed €40m plus €5m in add-ons and a future resale clause. He has already agreed personal terms with the club and is ready to make the jump to the Premier League.
Calafiori shined at Bologna under Thiago Motta last season, playing a crucial role in their historic charge of the Champions League. He also impressed for Italy at the recent European Championship, even if he unfortunately scored the decisive own goal in the group stage loss to Spain.
Arsenal beat Europe for Calafiori
Page three of today’s Tuttosport highlights how Arsenal had to beat out serious competition from teams across the continent to secure Calafiori from Bologna, with Juventus the most serious suitors in Italy.
Abroad, Bayer Leverkusen, Borussia Dortmund, Atletico Madrid, Chelsea and Tottenham all took steps forward for the 22-year-old, but none of them were able to fight off the Gunners.