Arsenal transfer news: Andrea Berta names mammoth Riccardo Calafiori asking price as Real Madrid interest 'cools'

Arsenal sporting manager Andrea Berta has reportedly slapped a mammoth £86m terms tag connected the caput of Real Madrid-linked defender Riccardo Calafiori.

The Italy planetary has rapidly go an integral portion of the Emirates furniture, coming up with 4 goals and 5 assists successful 65 matches for the Gunners since his 2024 accomplishment from Bologna.

Injuries person held Calafiori back, but the 24-year-old inactive started 22 Premier League matches past season, arsenic Arsenal coincidentally ended their 22-year hold for different top-flight honour.

Real Madrid person supposedly made interaction with Calafiori to gauge the Arsenal defender's involvement successful a determination to the Bernabeu, which caller caput manager Jose Mourinho is personally pushing for.

As Arsenal are expected to motion Piero Hincapie connected a imperishable woody from Bayer Leverkusen, Calafiori could conflict for play starts astatine left-back nether Mikel Arteta successful the 2026-27 campaign.

However, the Italian is nether declaration for different 3 seasons, and The Mirror claims that Real Madrid's involvement has cooled owing to Berta's mammoth valuation.

Real Madrid 'cool interest' successful £86m-rated Riccardo Calafiori

A projected £86m woody to merchantability Calafiori to Real Madrid would much than treble Arsenal's existent grounds sale, which remains Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's £35m power to Liverpool successful 2017.

Los Blancos person already committed to paying Chelsea £52m for Marc Cucurella, though, portion a £78m bid for Manchester City centre-back Ruben Dias has reportedly been lodged too.

As a result, Real Madrid are expected to absorption connected different areas of the tract alternatively than marque a superior play for Calafiori, particularly arsenic they person already snapped up Ibrahima Konate connected a escaped transfer.

Which players should Arsenal merchantability this summer?

While Calafiori's repeated fittingness concerns are hardly ideal, the 24-year-old has proven himself a dependable performer for Arteta erstwhile fit, and his versatility could besides beryllium pivotal if Gabriel Magalhaes picks up an injury.

Selling Calafiori should truthful not beryllium nether consideration, but Arsenal volition person to marque merciless decisions elsewhere wrong the squad aft raising a specified £14.5m done exits successful the summertime of 2025.

Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard are some expected to beryllium connected the chopping block, arsenic Arsenal are targeting astatine slightest 2 wide players successful the summertime model amid links with Christos Tzolis, Bradley Barcola and Morgan Rogers.

The Gunners should besides entertain offers for Gabriel Jesus up of his declaration expiry successful 2027, arsenic good arsenic injury-plagued right-back Ben White, whose presumption tally retired successful 2028.

Ethan Nwaneri's semipermanent aboriginal is besides up successful the aerial aft his unsuccessful Marseille stint, but the Hale End merchandise should beryllium fixed the accidental to beryllium his worthy successful pre-season.