Bologna chairman Claudio Fenucci has indicated that Arsenal are yet to agree a fee for Riccardo Calafiori but says Juventus have not been in contact in regards to a possible transfer hijack.
Calafiori is reported to have agreed personal terms with the Gunners on the basis of a five-year contract, but a fee with his club is yet to be agreed. Football.london understands that Bologna are holding firm over getting a good sum for their defender, with half of it due to go to former club FC Basel as per a sell-on agreement.
Speculation has mooted that the Serie A club are after around £42m for Calafiori, who is expected to return to his employers for pre-season once his break from international duty at Euro 2024 concludes. Bologna’s friendly schedule begins on Wednesday, albeit Italy star Calafiori might return to the squad at a later date.
Amid the intense speculation around his player, Bologna chief Fenucci was captured on camera answering a series of questions about Calafiori. Asked for an update on transfer talks with Arsenal, he replied: “No news.” On Juventus, he added: “I haven’t heard from them.”
Mikel Arteta earlier this month bemoaned Premier League spending rules for stalling Arsenal’s transfer activity, with David Raya the only senior arrival so far this summer. “I think you can tell everything is a bit slower,” he said.
“I think the market and the new rules in place have caused that clubs are more aware and it’s a bit more delicate to do business in the way we’ve done in the last few seasons.
“We have adapted to that, and we still want to deliver what we want in the transfer window to have a much more competitive team, and improve the squad in every area that we can.”
