Riccardo Calafiori's Next Club Odds: Arsenal The Favourites For Italian Defender

Riccardo Calafiori caught the eye at Euro 2024 and the UK betting sites have opened a market on where he might end up after the summer transfer window.

Italy did not have much to cheer at a tournament which saw them win one match and suffer elimination in the round of 16. 

Calafiori was a rare bright spot, however, and his absence from the last-16 clash with Switzerland no doubt contributed to Italy’s defeat in that match.

The 22-year-old plays his club football for Bologna, with whom he qualified for the Champions League last term. 

He has only been at the club for a year and Bologna will be keen to keep hold of him for at least another 12 months, with Calafiori under contract at the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara until 2027. 

However, some of the biggest clubs in Europe are taking an interest in the centre-back and betting apps have compiled a list of the candidates to sign him. 

Let’s take a look at some of the interested parties.

Riccardo Calafiori Next Club Odds

Arsenal Lead The Race For Calafiori

Arsenal are the 6/5 favourites with football betting sites to win the race for Calafiori’s signature. 

The Gunners have already made moves towards signing the former Roma player, with transfer insider Fabrizio Romano revealing that the Gunners have presented a proposal to the player’s representatives.

Of course, Arsenal would also need to agree a fee with Bologna, but it is hard to imagine the club presenting a package to Calafiori himself without being confident about agreeing a fee with his employers.

A centre-back by trade, there have been suggestions that Arsenal could play Calafiori at left-back. 

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes were both superb at the heart of the Gunners’ defence last term, so it will be difficult for anyone to break up that partnership.

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Chelsea Could Make Offer For Italian Defender

Chelsea are also said to be in the mix for Calafiori, with odds of 2/1 currently available. 

The Blues are keen to strengthen their backline following the departure of Thiago Silva at the end of last season. 

Throughout Todd Boehly’s chairmanship, Chelsea have opted to sign young players on long contracts - and at 22, Calafiori would be an obvious target.

Unlike Arsenal, though, Chelsea will not be able to offer the Italian Champions League football in 2024/25. 

That could be an issue if it comes down to a two-way tussle between the two London clubs. 

Alternatively, Chelsea could land Calafiori if they are prepared to outbid Arsenal on wages.

Reports suggest the Blues are considering a cash-plus-player bid, so much will depend on how Bologna feel about the player offered in part-exchange.

Liverpool And Tottenham Among The Dark Horses

Liverpool are available at 7/2 to sign Calafiori. They have been mentioned as a possible destination for the central defender in recent weeks, although Arsenal and Chelsea appear to have stolen a march on the Reds of late. 

It is unclear whether that is because Liverpool have turned their attention elsewhere, or whether they are holding back for now.

Arne Slot’s side will need to move quickly if they are to be in with a realistic chance of signing Calafiori. 

One question mark is whether his arrival would mean Virgil van Dijk shifting to the right-sided centre-back role at Anfield.

As for Tottenham Hotspur, they are a 4/1 shot. Spurs had a reasonably successful centre-back partnership of Cristian Romero and Micky van de Ven last term, but Ange Postecoglou is no doubt keen to add strength in depth to his squad.

Juventus, Real Madrid And Manchester United Outsiders

Juventus (6/1) have already poached Thiago Motta, Bologna’s manager last season, and are supposedly keen on prising Calafiori away from the Stadio Renato Dall’Ara too. 

However, Bologna’s technical director Giovanni Sartori has cast doubt on that possible transfer.

“We will try to keep Calafiori, but if important offers arrive we will have to take them into consideration,” he said. 

“I don't think he will go to Juventus. He will probably go to a different market.”

That could open the door to Real Madrid (8/1) or Manchester United (10/1). The former need a replacement for Nacho Fernandez, while the latter are searching for a successor to Raphael Varane. 

Both teams are outsiders, but United might be more of a likely destination than Madrid despite the odds listed here. 

* Reminder: These are hypothetical odds provided by industry experts.