According to rumors in Italy, Bologna and Riccardo Calafiori’s previous club FC Basel are at odds, which is delaying Arsenal’s pursuit of the defender.
Calafiori is one of Mikel Arteta‘s main objectives for the next summer transfer window, and the 22-year-old has been the subject of lengthy negotiations between Bologna and Arsenal.
Bologna has reportedly approved Arsenal‘s offer, which consists of an upfront payment of €40 million (£33.5 million) and further add-ons of €5 million (£4.2 million).
The defender, who started for Italy in three of their summertime Euro 2024 matches, has also reached a personal agreement with Arsenal.
La Gazzetta dello Sport, however, claims that Basel and Bologna are at odds over Calafiori’s sell-on clause, which is delaying the deal.
Basel, who sold Calafiori for €4 million (£3.4 million) last year, is demanding 50% of the transfer fee that Arsenal is owed, but Bologna is dissatisfied with those terms because the defender spent only a year with the Swiss club and did not receive his first senior call-up with Italy until May this year.
The report claims that Calafiori’s move is at a ‘standstill’ with Basel refusing to lower their demand, while the Serie A club are attempting to renegotiate the sell-on clause as they feel the rise in his value since last year is down to their faith in the player and development.
Bologna had expected Calafiori’s move to Arsenal to be completed shortly after Italy’s Euro 2024 campaign ended but the defender is now scheduled to report back for their pre-season training this weekend ahead of their training camp in Valles, Alto Adige, located in the north of Italy.
Arsenal, meanwhile, have some of their players back in training with those who participated at Euro 2024 and the Copa America given an extended break.
Mikel Arteta’s squad are due to fly out to the United States for the start of their pre-season tour on July 21.