According to sources, Arsenal is struggling to make progress in its bid to get Riccardo Calafiori after Bologna rejected a swap agreement.

Widespread reports indicate Arsenal’s interest in the Italy international, with Mikel Arteta hoping to sign a new centre-back this summer.

Arteta aims to provide competition for Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba in case one of them becomes injured or suspended next season.

And while it appeared that a deal was close a week or so ago, there is currently an impasse over the transfer fee that Arsenal will pay after agreeing to personal terms with the player.

Transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano provided an update on Sunday, stating that Calafiori is “still waiting” for the two teams to agree on a cost for the Bologna defender, who impressed for Italy in Euro 2024.

In his Caught Offside column, Romano stated, “The Bologna defender is still waiting for Arsenal as the clubs try to reach an agreement on the transfer fee.”

“If it goes through, Calafiori should be a fantastic signing for Arsenal because he is an excellent defender who can play centre-back or left-back, has an excellent left foot, and can provide assists and score goals as he did for Bologna last season.”

“Quality is the greatest way to describe him. He’s a centre-back, yet he has the ability to help the squad build up like a midfielder.

According to reports in Italy, Arsenal is still “certain” that a deal will be completed, but “the game is not over yet,” with Calafiori scheduled to return to training in Bologna on July 20.

Calafiori has stated that he wants to taste the Arsenal experience, and Bologna has stated that they will accommodate him, but only on their terms.

Arsenal is still’stuck’ on an offer of €45 million plus an additional €5 million in bonuses, but Bologna is afraid that they will not receive a fair price because Swiss side Basel is entitled to 50% of the sum.

If Basel fails to reduce their portion this summer, Arsenal may need to increase their proposal to about €60 million because Bologna ‘does not intend to sell for less than €30 million clean’.

The Swiss team is presently ‘not listening’ to Bologna, and the Gunners ‘have offered a loan with an option to buy for Polish centre-back Jakub Kiwior in an attempt to break the deadlock,’ but the Serie A side has’refused’.