Riccardo Calafiori will join up with Arsenal on their pre-season tour of the United States after completing his move from Bologna, football.london understands.
The Gunners have been in talks with the Serie A side for some time over the Italian international. Initial offers were rebuffed with Bologna looking to secure a hefty fee given a series of sell-on clause agreements involving Calafiori’s former clubs FC Basel and AS Roma. A deal involving Jakub Kiwior heading to Bologna was touted, but it’s understood that the Polish international was not keen on the move.
Now though, the Italian international is set to join for an initial fee of £33.7million with up to £4.2million in add ons. The deal will make him Arsenal’s second signing of the summer after David Raya’s loan move from Brentford was made permanent.
The transfer is so advanced that football.london understands Calafiori will join up with his new teammates on their pre-season tour of the USA, which is already under way, with the Gunners taking on Bournemouth in their first clash.
He will become Arsenal’s fourth signing overall this window after academy goalkeepers Tommy Setford and Lucas Nygard arrived this summer. Both players were on the plane that touched down in LA on Sunday night as Arsenal began their pre-season tour of America
Calafiori is viewed as a potential solution at left-back for Arsenal. The position proved to be something of an uncertainty last season with Zinchenko, Jurrien Timber, Jakub Kiwior and Takehiro Tomiyasu all filling the role at different stages. The Italian can also play at centre back where he is expected to provide competition for Gabriel Magalhaes.
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Elsewhere Emile Smith Rowe is edging closer to an exit from Arsenal. The England international has attracted a club record bid from Fulham believed to be in the region of £35million.
Arsenal intend to reinforce their squad further beyond Calafiori this summer. Mikel Merino is among the players they are looking at in midfield, while a forward is also on the agenda.
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