On Saturday, transfer guru Fabrizio Romano revealed that an agreement has finally been reached between the two clubs. Arsenal are set to pay €40million (£37.9m) with a further €5million (£4.2m) available in add-ons and a sell-on clause included in the move.
While an agreement between Arsenal and Bologna is in place, the latter and his former club Basel still need to agree on the fee that will go to the Swiss club. As the final details are being wrapped up, Arsenal will hope to complete the signing of Calafiori before the end of the month with their next transfer clear.
A priority for Arteta and Edu has been to sign a new midfielder, Amadou Onana and Douglas Luiz were two targets from fellow Premier League clubs, however both players have chosen to go elsewhere.
Alongside the aforementioned duo, Youssouf Fofana looks set to join AC Milan from AS Monaco, though Real Sociedad duo Martin Zubimendi and Mikel Merino remain as options. The Gunners are long-term admirers of Zubimendi but remaining in Spain is the most likely outcome for the 25-year-old.
Merino on the other hand, could be sold this summer with just one year remaining on his contract and interest from Arsenal advancing recently. The 28-year-old’s talent and physicality are just two of the traits Arteta is an admirer of and with Merino out of Arsenal’s usual transfer boundaries, it shows just how much the club like him.
Signing a new goalkeeper and attacker could later become key for Arteta, but first, bringing in a new midfielder should be the aim. Declan Rice, despite his own preference, has thrived in a more advanced role with Merino having the qualities that would allow him to continue shining.
