Arsenal: Riccardo Calafiori omitted from Bologna squad for training camp as £40m transfer nears

Riccardo Calafiori has been left out of Bologna’s squad for a pre-season training camp as he nears a move to Arsenal.

The Gunners are closing in on signing the Italy defender as part of a deal that would be worth around £40million.

Transfer talks advanced over the weekend and on Monday morning Bologna confirmed that Calafiori will not be part of their squad to attend a pre-season training camp at South Tyrol, in the north-east of Italy.

The Serie A side are heading there on Monday evening for a camp that runs until August 3, but Calafiori has not been named among the travelling contingent.

Arsenal are pushing ahead with a deal for the 22-year-old after seeing off rival interest from Juventus and other Premier League clubs.

Calafiori will provide competition in the Arsenal squad at left-back, as well as in the heart of defence.

The Gunners have already moved to strengthen their squad this summer by making goalkeeper David Raya’s loan move from Brentford permanent for £27m.

The club on Sunday also completed a deal for fellow goalkeeper Tommy Setford, who has joined from Ajax for a fee under £1m.

Calafiori would be a statement signing from Arsenal as the defender was an impressive performer at Euro 2024.

That run came off the back of a fine season in Serie A, with the former Basel player helping Bologna to secure Champions League football.

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Earlier in the summer, it had been thought that Calafiori would head to Juventus - and link up with his old boss Thiago Motta - but Arsenal have now swooped.

Calafiori will become the second Bologna player to head to the Premier League this summer, after Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee last week joined Manchester United in a deal worth £36.5m.