‘He’s like Sergio Ramos’ – Arsenal told they are getting defender who can do it all in Riccardo Calafiori

Arsenal are getting a defender who can do it all in Riccardo Calafiori.

That’s according to talkSPORT host, and former Chelsea striker, Tony Cascarino ahead of the Italy defender’s switch to the Emirates.

talkSPORT understands the Gunners have reached an agreement in principle with Bologna to sign the 22-year-old.

The deal is believed to be worth an initial £34million, rising to £38m in add-ons.

A post went viral on social media purporting to be from his girlfriend claiming he had joined, but she later denied that it was from her account.

The north Londoners already have William Saliba and Gabriel as their centre-back pairing, who were both rock solid for Arsenal in their attempt to topple Manchester City last season.

Cascarino said on Weekend Sports Breakfast: “If Arsenal are getting a deal done for £40 million for a centre-half that a lot of clubs have looked at and wanted then that’s a fantastic addition to the club.

“He’s got it all. He’s really composed, but he’s got a bit of Sergio Ramos in him as well. 

“He gets on the ball, he can find passes really easily. You can play him in a three, you can play him in a two. He’s really versatile and I think it’s a great addition for Arsenal.”

European football expert Lars Sivertsen says Calafiori will still be a perfect addition – and the versatile star doesn’t just play at centre-back either.

He said: “A very confident defender, used to play as a left-back when he was younger.

“I think the memory most people will have of him this summer is when he was striding forth with the ball for Italy when they got a last minute draw against Croatia.”

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Calafiori joined Bologna last summer, helping them to finish fifth in Serie A last term, rising from ninth place from the season prior.

Under head coach Thiago Motta he was switched to a centre-back role, where he emerged as one of the best players in the league – making 37 appearances in all competitions, scoring twice and providing five assists.

He kept his new role for Euro 2024, bursting forward from central defence and feeding Lazio winger Mattia Zaccagni who bagged a last-ditch equaliser and broke Croatian hearts.

“That’s quite indicative,” Sivertsen said. “He’s quite a confident guy, he used to play at left-back so is confident moving the ball forward out of defence.

“He’s also a good defender. You can probably use him at left-back if you want to. I think it’s a really interesting addition to Arsenal.

“I think he’s good enough to play for the first-team and he gives them an option for two different positions.”

Despite not being far into his career, the defender got experience outside of Italy before popping up on Arsenal’s radar.

Sivertsen continued: “A really interesting player. He took a slightly roundabout way to reach the levels he’s at now.

“He was on the books at Roma. He’s from Rome and he was part of the youth set-up and then never quite broke through there. 

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“Then he went off to Switzerland to play for Basel, which was an odd thing for a young, promising player to do.

“But he found his groove there and was part of the great Bologna team that surprised a lot of people in Serie A this season.” 

Calafiori’s Bologna contract expires in June 2027.

Arsenal are yet to make a signing this summer, but are still being linked to other Euro 2024 star, Nico Williams.