Premier League Titans Arsenal and Juventus Eye Italian Defender Riccardo Calafiori Amidst Bidding War

Arsenal is currently keeping a close eye on Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori and is contemplating whether to enter the race for the 22-year-old’s signature. The recruitment team at Arsenal has been impressed by Calafiori, who had a standout performance at the European Championship with the Italian national team. Despite strong interest from Juventus, Arsenal is not the only team considering signing him.

Calafiori had a successful season with Bologna, making 33 appearances and earning his first call-up to the Italian national team. Bologna finished fifth in Serie A, and Calafiori played in all three of Italy’s group stage games at Euro 2024. However, he was suspended for the round of 16 knockout tie against Switzerland, which resulted in Italy’s 2-0 loss.

Giovanni Sartori, the technical director of Bologna, has stated that there is a desire to keep Calafiori at the club, but they will consider any serious offers that may come their way. While Juventus is a prominent contender, there are several other teams interested in Calafiori. Sartori mentioned that they would like to keep him, but if significant offers are made, they will have to evaluate their options.

If Arsenal decides to pursue Calafiori, it could raise questions about the future of Poland center-back Jakub Kiwior at the club. Kiwior, who joined Arsenal from Spezia in January last year, has been linked to a return to Italy in recent months. The potential acquisition of Calafiori by Arsenal could add further uncertainty to Kiwior’s tenure at the club.

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