Arsenal and Chelsea are in ‘internal talks’ to sign the Italian star for Euro 2024

Arsenal and Chelsea are in ‘internal talks’ to sign the Italy star for Euro 2024

Arsenal and Chelsea are keeping a close eye on him future Bologna and Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori, according to reports.

The budding defender was only 21 for most of the 2023/24 season but helped Bologna to a surprise fifth-place finish in Serie A to qualify for the Champions League.

Calafiori was then named as Italy’s starter at Euro 2024 and, despite scoring his goal in the minor league defeat to Spain, impressed. Perhaps it also meant he was suspended for the last 16 defeat by Switzerland which sent the reigning champions home early.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Calafiori has been “discussed internally” by Arsenal and Chelsea, and has been a target for Juventus in February.

Bologna do not expect to sell to their home rivals, as they finished three points behind Juventus in the final table last season. The technical director, Giovanni Sartori, said the club “would like to keep Calafiori” but he seems open to selling abroad if he wants to go anywhere.

“I think he will not end up joining Juventus. Maybe he can go abroad, if we decide to sell him,” a Bologna official was quoted as saying on the matter.

That invited Premier League clubs to submit offers for Calafiori, with Arsenal and Chelsea now described as “considering the situation”. However, beyond the initial interest, it has not yet reached the concrete stage of discussions or proposals.

West Ham United have also been linked with Calafiori, amid efforts to bolster new manager Julen Lopetegui’s backline, but their main focus appears to be on linking the Spaniard with Wolverhampton Wanderers captain Max Kilman. Tottenham Hotspur are also understood to be interested.

In terms of Calafiori’s suitability, Chelsea are perhaps the club most in need of a left-back. Last year’s Premier League runners-up have Gabriel Magalhaes at the heart of their defense along with William Saliba and they have Jakub Kiwior in defence. The Blues, meanwhile, have Levi Colwill to call upon, but he is yet to establish himself as a first-team regular at Stamford Bridge.

Calafiori spent the first half of 2022/23 with former club Basel operating as a full-back, highlighting his versatility, before switching to midfield. He continued in midfield when he joined Bologna but at times he still filled every position.

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