Arsenal propose long-term deal to pip Chelsea in race for Italy's shining light at Euro 2024
Arsenal appears to be accelerating the signing of Riccardo Calafiori after presenting a long-term offer and could beat Chelsea for his acquisition. The 22-year-old defender has gained notoriety ever since leading Bologna to a Champions League spot.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal wants to press for his signing, and the centre-back is also keen on moving to the Gunners in the summer, while the Blues are still in the race but have not made any offers yet.
Calafiori enjoyed a breakthrough season with Bologna last season and appeared in 33 matches in Serie A. His performance propelled Italy to include him in the squad for the Euro 2024 tournament, where he further cemented his status as the best young defender.
However, Italy was eliminated from the competition following a 2-0 defeat to Switzerland, with the 22-year-old suspended for the match due to an accumulation of yellow cards. Calafiori is a versatile defender who can play as a left-back when there are three at the back and also as a centre-back.
He is more of a left-centre-back who can make overlapping runs. His maturity on the pitch helps him make better decisions with his passing, positional awareness, and man-marking.
This calibre of centre-back is what the Blues need, and since he can also play left-back, Chelsea could use one more given their track record of left-back woes following the injuries to Marc Cucurella and Ben Chilwell.
Chelsea needs to make wise signings instead of just focusing on attackers, as attention must be paid to their defence, especially fullback positions. Calafiori is young, but his maturity on the pitch illustrates that he is made for a competitive environment where he will thrive with ease.
However, the West Londoners need to make their interest concrete, as Arsenal seems to be moving fast and the centre-back is already open to joining them. But that is not an issue if Chelsea is serious; we can expect them to move quickly. If the Blues feel Calafiori will be a great fit, they need to make a decision soon.
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