“If he chose Arsenal over Man City, I’ll resign as a football coach…He’s the player we can’t afford to see him playing for them, they may become undefeatable with him”: Pep Guardiola angered by World-class player’s decision to join Arsenal as Man City increases bid to convince him from Arsenal transfer.
The European Championships may be in full swing, but with the transfer window wide open, there’s no rest for the wicked.
After coming agonisingly close to dethroning Manchester City in the Premier League last season, Arsenal remain on the lookout for the right players who could help them bridge that gap.
Mikel Arteta’s side scored five fewer goals than the eventual champions but could boast the best defensive record in the league.
Interestingly, based on recent reports, it looks as if Edu Gaspar and Co want to solidify their crucial advantage in the coming weeks, as the latest player touted for a move to the Emirates has been one of the most exciting defenders at the Euros and could be the ideal long-term partner for William Saliba.
Arsenal transfer news
According to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal are now interested in Bologna’s star defender, Riccardo Calafiori.
The Italian journalist has claimed that while the player favours a move to Juventus, his club’s uneasy relationship with the Old Lady could see him sold to a team outside of Serie A, and following Italy’s exit from the Euros at the weekend, Bologna expect more Premier League clubs to start circling above.
A report from football.london late last week revealed that £40m is thought to be the fee that will see the player move, and while that’s not cheap, it may prove value for money based on his recent performance and the prospect of seeing him play alongside Saliba is undoubtedly a compelling one.
Why Calafiori would be a great signing
So, one of the main reasons that Calafiori would be a brilliant defender for Arsenal to sign is that he plays on the front foot and could play an essential role in helping the Gunners control games and pile pressure onto their opponents.
For example, FBref, which compares players in similar positions in Europe’s top five leagues, places the 22-year-old in the top 1% of centre-backs for assists, the top 3% for shot-creating actions, the top 4% for interceptions and the top 8% for successful take-ons, all per 90.
