Arsenal ready to step up pursuit of Euro 2024 star after Calafiori deal agreed

Arsenal are pressing ahead with their business in the summer transfer window. After lengthy talks with Bologna over Riccardo Calafiori, the Gunners have finally struck a deal in the region of €50 million ($54m) to bring him to north London.

The 22-year-old defender has been identified as their top defensive target for the past few weeks but negotiations have stalled, with the Italian outfit determined to drive a hard bargain due to a hefty sell-on clause inserted by his former club FC Basel.

With the deal now almost in the bag, the Gunners look primed to quickly move to their next target position, a central midfielder, and Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino is very much their priority target.

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Arsenal ramp up Mikel Merino pursuit

According to SPORT , the Gunners are ready to up the ante in pursuit of the 28-year-old Spanish star, who is expected to leave Real Sociedad and has not penned a contract extension despite his current deal expiring next summer.

The north Londoners have been keeping tabs on him for weeks and now appear ready to accelerate their interest following his strong performance at Euro 2024.

However, they are not the only club chasing after his signature and face stiff competition from the likes of Atletico Madrid and Barcelona, the latter of whom have made Merino as their top target for midfield, but are first trying to seal deals for Nico Williams and Dani Olmo.