Man Utd could wreck Arsenal transfer plan as nightmare Riccardo Calafiori scenario laid bare

Manchester United could wreck Arsenal's chances of signing Riccardo Calafiori in what could quickly become a nightmare summer transfer window for Mikel Arteta and Edu.

The Gunners are interested in a move for Calafiori, who impressed for Italy at Euro 2024, this summer and have presented a long-term proposal to the defender, according to Fabrizio Romano. It's understood the 22-year-old is open to joining Arsenal if they can agree a deal with Bologna. Chelsea are. among the others keen to sign Calafiori, who has three years left on his contract and is valued at around £40million.

Calafiori can play at both centre-back and left-back, and Arsenal are in the market for defensive reinforcements as they bid to challenge Manchester City and others for the Premier League title once again. Juventus have also registered an interest - but Bologna technical director Giovanni Sartori dismissed the idea of him going to another Serie A club as he provided an update on Calafiori's future.

Sartori told Calciomercato: "We took him 12 months ago so we'll see what happens in the market but in our heads there is the will to keep him. "We will try to keep him but if important offers arrive we will have to take them into consideration. I don't think he will go to Juventus, he will probably go to a different market."

United could have a major say on whether Calafiori does move to the Emirates, however. This is because the Red Devils are keen on signing his team-mate Joshua Zirkzee this summer.

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Having already lost manager Thiago Motta to Juventus, Bologna are not going to want to lose too many of their star assets. If Zirkzee does leave first, then the likelihood of them selling Calafiori too in this transfer window decreases. It could be a nightmare scenario for the Gunners, especially as Zirkzee had been linked with a move to north London earlier this summer.

After compiling a three-man defensive transfer target list, Mikel Arteta has reportedly approved a move for Calafiori. The Gunners have a good relationship with Bologna after Takehiro Tomiyasu was signed in 2021 and there is hope that a deal can get done. Meanwhile, Chelsea would offer players as part of any deal.