Arsenal face an inevitable Riccardo Calafiori transfer problem that Edu can’t solve with a clear new concern

Having lost their manager and last season’s top scorer, Bologna won’t be giving up easily when it comes to Riccardo Calafiori this summer. The Serie A side have already seen two key pieces of their impressive 2023/24 squad leave and aren’t prepared to let another go without a fight.

For Arsenal, who began talks with the Italian side over a deal with Calafiori several weeks ago, while still in action at Euro 2024, this should come as no surprise. Bologna have already had to replace Thiago Motta at the helm, with the former Paris Saint-Germain midfielder having joined Juventus before you could say “pre-season” or “holiday”.

It soon became clear that Joshua Zirkzee, who led the attack and scored 11 goals and provided four assists in the league last season, would also be leaving. Bologna cashed in on the 23-year-old and even managed to get a little more of his release clause from Manchester United.

Therefore, they do not have liquidity problems and, although everything has been agreed individually with Calafiori, no subsequent agreement has been reached between the clubs.

The question remains over the price and structure of the deal. football.london Bologna must give up a substantial amount of any signing to Calafiori’s former club Basel, and his performances at Euro 2024 have seen his value rise in recent months. Arsenal have so far been unable to offer a deal that meets Bologna’s criteria.

The silence between late June and now has been revealing, with Bologna president Claudio Fenucci unable to offer much new news when he was stopped by the Italian press as he got into his car. “There is no news,” he said simply. The good thing for Arsenal is that they remain the most advanced team.

READ MORE: Riccardo Calafiori takes a summer dig at Arsenal with a three-word message during transfer standoff

READ MORE: Arsenal transfer news LIVE

Despite interest from clubs across Europe, including Juventus, Fenucci explained that he had “not heard anything” from the Old Lady. And despite the attention Calafiori has received, the aim has always been to build around him rather than sell.

“We signed him[Calafiori]12 months ago so we’ll see what happens in the market, but we’re determined to keep him,” head coach Giovanni Sartori said earlier this month. “We’ll try to keep him but if important offers come in, we’ll have to take them into account. I don’t think he’ll go to Juventus, he’ll probably go to another market.”

So far he has proven himself right. Offers have come in, but the club has not yet given in to the demands of Arsenal and other clubs. For Arsenal this was always going to be the case, especially once Zirkzee left.

“He has a clause, so he will leave at 99.9%,” Sartori continued when talking about the Dutchman. “Replacement? We have been thinking about it for months. It won’t be easy, but we will work to replace him, we have some names.”

The failure to complete the deal for Calafiori before Zirkzee’s departure has left Arsenal in a difficult position. And while Bologna would surely have preferred to keep both players and Motta, they are working to secure real compensation in return, and Arsenal are paying the price.