'My understanding': £45m player has spoken privately with Mikel Arteta about joining Arsenal - journalist

07/06/2024 06:15 AM

Mikel Arteta has done a fantastic job at Arsenal.

The Spaniard has completely changed the way the Gunners play, while he's also played a big part in the squad's transformation in terms of personnel.

Indeed, while Edu may be the club's Sporting Director, you often hear Arsenal's new signings speak about how a phone call with Mikel Arteta swayed their decision to head to the Emirates.

Arteta is seemingly brilliant at selling his project to potential signings, and, by the sounds of it, he's doing the same thing once again with Riccardo Calafiori.

Mikel Arteta has spoken to Riccardo Calafiori

Speaking on The Debrief, Ben Jacobs shared an update on Calafiori and his potential move to Arsenal, claiming that the £45m player has already spoken to Mikel Arteta.

"Arsenal are more advanced than Chelsea at this point and the player would be keen on the move. My understanding is that he's already spoken to Mikel Arteta. Arsenal and Calafiori is one to watch now in the coming days or weeks," Jacobs said.

Calafiori deal looks likely

This isn't a done deal yet, but it sounds as though it may just be a matter of time before Calafiori joins Arsenal.

Once you start talking to a manager about a potential move, it's fair to say negotiations are fairly advanced.

Personal terms are already said to be agreed on this one, and while there have been conflicting reports, it sounds as though a club-to-club agreement may not be too far away either.

Calafiori's conversations with Arteta appear to have been positive, and it wouldn't be a surprise at all if the Italian was the north London club's first signing of the summer.

As Jacobs says, this is one to watch in the coming days, and it may not be long before we see Calafiori wearing that famous red shirt at London Colney.