Arsenal tipped to join Spurs and Chelsea in £42m transfer race for Euro 2024 breakout star

Arsenal will compete with north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur for the signature of 22-year-old Italy international Riccardo Calafiori, according to the latest reports.

Italian outlet Tuttosport has claimed the Bologna defender has found another Premier League admirer with the Gunners considering him a potential replacement for Jakub Kiwior whose Emirates future remains in doubt. However, the Gunners will have familiar rivals in the chase for Calafiori’s services with both Spurs and Chelsea having been linked with the rising star.

Calafiori has enjoyed a hugely impressive season since returning to Italy last summer. The 22-year-old centre-back, who can also play on the left, came up through the AS Roma youth ranks, making ten Serie A appearances for the senior squad. However, after struggling to secure a more permanent role in the squad, Calafiori headed to Basel in 2022.

His displays alerted clubs back in his home country to his growing talent, with Bologna signing him in 2023 and the 22-year-old quickly became an integral part of the Rossoblu’s back-line. Calafiori’s performances have since gone from strength to strength, subsequently capturing the attention of several high-profile clubs, with Arsenal now the latest on the list.

Arsenal’s transfer wish-list appears to be consistently expanding as they eye a new striker, midfielder and a new centre-back to help support the formidable duo of Gabriel and William Saliba. Oleksandr Zinchenko’s 2023/24 performances were also far from sparkling, thus making the wish for a new defender to be left-sided of huge importance.

Tottenham are also on the hunt for a new left-footed centre-back in the ongoing transfer window in order to compete with Micky van de Ven and due to Eric Dier’s uncertain future at the club.

Recent reports have claimed, however, that the Italian star would wish to stay in Italy beyond the summer transfer window and Juventus are said to be in ‘pole position’ to seal the deal.

The defender made 37 appearances for Bologna, contributing two goals and five assists as he helped the side to reach Champions League football. He is now representing his country at the ongoing European Championships and, after scoring an unfortunate own goal against Spain, assisted Mattia Zaccagni’s 90+8th minute goal in the nation’s 1-1 draw with Croatia.