Arsenal transfer news round-up: Calafiori deal stalls, Merino & Williams on the Gunners radar
Arsenal have had a quiet summer transfer window thus far. David Raya has been the only major signing for the Gunners, making his initial loan deal permanent after a successful 2023/24 season.
Despite the lack of activity from Arsenal, they’re still expected to make a couple of additions to Mikel Arteta’s squad ahead of another potential title challenge with Manchester City next season.
Arteta wants to bolster his squad with a new left-back, midfielder, wide player, and striker, but the Gunners will have to offload fringe players to make way for fresh recruits.
Arsenal have already sold Albert Sambi Lokonga and Nuno Tavares to Sevilla and Lazio on loan deals, freeing up space in the squad.
While they would have preferred to sell them permanently and recoup a transfer fee, getting both players off their wage bill for the upcoming season still helps the club‘s recruitment drive.
Several other players could leave the Emirates Stadium next summer. Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah, Thomas Partey, Kieran Tierney, Reiss Nelson, Jakub Kiwior, and Aaron Ramsdale are all on the chopping block.
Smith Rowe is subject to interest from London clubs Fulham and Crystal Palace, while Nelson is admired by West Ham United.
Partey and Kiwior are attracting interest from Serie A giants Juventus, while Ramsdale has been linked with a move to Newcastle United.
Arsenal need to sell before they can sign new players, but that hasn’t stopped the club from mapping out their plans for the summer transfer window.
The Gunners will need to strengthen their squad with quality additions to bolster their chances of dethroning Man City after finishing as runners-up for two consecutive seasons.
Despite missing out on the Premier League title by just two points last season, anticipation is growing within the Arsenal fanbase ahead of what could be a historic campaign for Arteta and his troops.
Seatsnet.com remains the best marketplace to buy Arsenal tickets for fans looking to catch all the live action from the 2024/25 season.
There could be a couple of new stars to watch from the stands as a number of players have been linked with a move to Arsenal.
Here are some of the Arsenal transfer news making the rounds.
Arsenal still locked in talks to sign Riccardo Calafiori
Arsenal have agreed a deal to sign Bologna centre-back Riccardo Calafiori, and the Italian defender is poised to become the club’s second signing of the summer transfer window.
The Gunners have agreed personal terms with the defender, but the transfer has yet to be finalised. Both clubs are still in talks over a suitable payment structure.
Arsenal shrugged off competition from Juventus and capital rivals Chelsea for Calafiori’s signature, but they must move fast and seal the deal to avoid any last-minute hijacks.
Arsenal have agreed to pay Bologna £42 million to sign Calafiori, but they want to utilise a payment structure that may include performance-related add-ons.
Fresh reports suggest the Gunners could use Kiwior as a bargaining chip to ease Bologna’s stance on the payment structure, considering the Polish defender can be a like-for-like replacement for Calafiori.
Both players boast identical profiles. They’re naturally centre-backs but capable of slotting in at left-back when required.
Kiwior has been linked with a move to Juventus after the Serie A giants missed out on Calafiori, but they’re focused on signing OGC Nice centre-back Jean-Clair Todibo.
He could be used as a trump card to get the Calafiori deal over the line, with Bologna interested in landing his signature, albeit in a separate deal.
The Serie A overachievers are likely to propose a season-long loan with the option of making the purchase permanent next summer.
A move to the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara could also appeal to Kiwior, given that Bologna can offer Champions League football and the promise of regular first-team minutes.
Whatever the case may be, Arsenal need to speed up their transfer activity and wrap up a deal for Calafiori, with the team set to embark on a trip to the United States to begin their pre-season tour.
Bologna are unlikely to provide a discount on Calafiori, considering they’ll have to pay 40% of the profit to Swiss club FC Basel as part of their initial sell-on clause agreement.
However, negotiating a decent loan fee with a purchase clause for Kiwior to join Bologna could smoothen talks between both clubs for Calafiori.
The Gunners may be in pole position to sign the Italian international defender, but dithering on a deal could open the door for other interested clubs to hijack the transfer at the last minute.
The 22-year-old played a crucial role in Bologna’s historic campaign, making 37 appearances across all competitions and chipping in with two goals and five assists.
He was a colossal presence in defence, recording 6.5 ball recoveries per 90 minutes while winning 58% of his ground duels and an outstanding 71% of his aerial contests.
Arsenal are keen to sign Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino & Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams
While trying to finalise a deal for Calafiori, Arsenal are also looking to complete a double raid on La Liga amid interest in Real Sociedad midfielder Mikel Merino and Athletic Bilbao winger Nico Williams.
Midfield is one of the key areas Arteta wants to strengthen this summer, and the Gunners have set their sights on Merino, who could be a cost-effective addition to the squad.
The 28-year-old has one year left on his contract with Sociedad, and the Basque club would rather cut him loose this summer than lose him on a free transfer next year.
Sociedad have set their asking price at £20m for the former Newcastle midfielder, but Arsenal will have no problems matching their demands.
Merino was part of the Spain squad that clinched the 2024 European Championship title in Germany, although he was primarily utilised as an impact substitute.
His only goal in the tournament was the match-winner in the 2-1 victory over Euro 2024 hosts Germany in the quarter-finals.
Arsenal’s interest in Merino predates the tournament, but his performance in Germany has undoubtedly bolstered his reputation.
He possesses all the tools Arteta is looking for in a midfielder, but the Gunners may have to fend off competition from Barcelona, who are also known admirers of the Spaniard.
Both clubs are also set to compete for Bilbao winger Nico Williams, who has become a highly coveted player after playing a key role in Spain’s Euro 2024 triumph.
He notched two goals and an assist and created four big chances for Spain during the tournament, strengthening his status as one of the best young wingers in the continent.
Williams’s contract includes a £49m release clause, and Bilbao want the payment upfront, which complicates matters for Arsenal and Barca.
The Spanish club’s precarious financial situation gives Arsenal an edge, but they’ll still have to fend off competition from Chelsea, who have reportedly made Williams a priority target.
