‘Agreed’ – Arsenal make progress in £37.8m transfer despite setback…

Arsenal are making significant progress towards finalizing a £37.8m transfer deal, despite encountering a minor obstacle.

Arsenal moves closer to completing £37.8m transfer despite encountering a hurdle.

The club is reportedly close to securing their top defensive target for the upcoming season. Discussions are underway between Arsenal and Bologna, with a contract already agreed upon with Italian star Riccardo Calafiori.

The Gunners are determined to strengthen their squad after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title last season.

Following a period of substantial investment last year, Mikel Arteta and Edu are focused on balancing the financial books by offloading surplus players.

Simultaneously, efforts are being made to bring in new talent. Calafiori, who caught the eye during Euro 2024, is poised to join Arsenal.

The 22-year-old left-footed defender showcased his skills at Bologna last season, making him a promising addition to the team.

Arsenal currently boasts two starting defenders in Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba, with transfer rumors surrounding the former.

Jurrien Timber is also a strong option in defense. Calafiori is set to join the team to compete with these players and could potentially feature on the left side of a back three or as a left back.

Arteta has previously utilized center-backs as full-backs, such as Ben White and Timber.

According to the latest reports from Corriere di Bologna, Arsenal has reached an agreement with Calafiori for a five-year contract worth £3.36 million annually, approximately £64,600 per week.

However, negotiations are ongoing as Arsenal and Bologna have yet to agree on a transfer fee. Bologna is reportedly seeking £37.8 million plus around £4.2 million in bonuses for the deal to go through.

The exact amount Arsenal is willing to pay remains uncertain, but they may opt to include more bonuses and lower the fee to avoid exacerbating their financial issues this summer.

On the other hand, Bologna is likely to push for a larger upfront payment for their talented center-back.