Category: Italy Serie A

• Arteta keen to complete deal this week before US tour
• Bologna and Basel to receive windfalls from transfer

Arsenal are hoping to complete the signing of Riccardo Calafiori this week after holding further talks with Bologna over the Italy defender. The 22-year-old is understood to have agreed terms after his impressive displays at Euro 2024 and Mikel Arteta is keen to push through the transfer before Arsenal depart for their pre-season tour of the United States next week.

Negotiations over the fee and the structure of payments are believed to have progressed over the past few days, with Bologna likely to receive about £42m for the player they signed from Basel last summer for £3.4m. The Swiss club are understood to be due 50% of any profit Bologna make.

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• Netherlands striker ready to join from Bologna
• New offer of £45m plus £5m add-ons for Everton defender

Manchester United are closing in on signing Joshua Zirkzee from Bologna after terms with the striker and his agent’s commission were agreed. The club are deliberating over whether to trigger the Netherlands international’s €40m (£34m) release clause or negotiate a higher fee that would allow payments by instalments.

Erik ten Hag is also targeting the centre-backs Jarrad Branthwaite and Matthijs de Ligt, and cashflow is an issue for United. So having the funds to operate in the market is a balancing act reliant in part on outgoings that would draw finance from fees and the removal of salaries.

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