Arteta speaks on Arsenal’s move for Calafiori

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has broken in silence on the club’s move for Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori this summer transfer window.

Arteta in a statement disclosed that there is no update on the Gunners’ pursuit of Calafiori amid claims that a deal is imminent.

Recall that Calafiori was said to have given approval to a move to the Emirates Stadium despite interest from Italian giants Juuventus.

Bologna and Arsenal had also reached an agreement on a €45m (£37.9m) deal for the defender, with the North London club expected to pay an upfront fee of €40m (£33.6m) for the Italy star with a further €5m (£4.3m) in add-ons.

However, recent report revealed the transfer has now been held up by two clubs due to sell-on clause disputes.

Bologna and Basel, who sold Calafiori to the Italian club last year engaged in a dispute over a clause which would see the Swiss club get 50% of any future transfer fee, meaning that they would be owed €22.5m (£19m).

But popular football transfer expert Fabrizio Romano in a more recent update revealed that dispute is now over and that Arsenal and Bologna are now exchanging documents and preparing contracts for Calafiori.

Meanwhile, Arteta and Arsenal have touched down in the USA for their pre-season tour.