Riccardo Calafiori has thrown his weight behind Arsenal's ambitious transfer strategy, insisting the club must sign players of the caliber of Bruno Guimaraes and Vinicius Jr to build on their Premier League title triumph. The Italy international believes such additions are essential for the Gunners to stay at the top and compete for more silverware.
Guimaraes deal close
Arsenal are on the verge of completing a £75 million deal for Newcastle United midfielder Bruno Guimaraes. The two clubs agreed on the fee after Arsenal's initial £70m bid was rejected, with Newcastle holding out for £80m. Guimaraes made it clear he wanted to move to north London, facilitating the negotiations.
The Brazilian's arrival would be a statement of intent from Mikel Arteta, who is also keen to bolster his attacking options with a left-winger. Real Madrid's Vinicius Jr has emerged as a shock target, with Arsenal reportedly working on a deal despite the Spanish giants offering the forward improved contract terms.
Calafiori's endorsement
Speaking to Sky Sports, Calafiori expressed his approval of the club's transfer activity, saying: "Of course we are on that level now, we are on top. We want to win the league again and we want to be even better than last season, if we can, so we need those kind of players, I think."
The defender's comments come as Arsenal prepare for the Community Shield against Manchester City in just 10 days, with many of their World Cup participants yet to rejoin the squad. Calafiori featured in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Real Betis on Wednesday and acknowledged the challenges of a disrupted pre-season.
Vinicius Jr pursuit complicated
While the Guimaraes deal is expected to be confirmed imminently, the pursuit of Vinicius Jr has become more complicated after Real Madrid improved their contract offer. The Brazilian's current deal expires next summer, meaning he could leave on a free transfer if no agreement is reached. Arsenal are ready to offer him attractive terms, but the player's decision remains uncertain.
Arteta, meanwhile, was far from pleased with the defeat to Real Betis, admitting the squad's mood was somber. "Very upset, given a hard time. They are fuming, but this is good. That's what we need," he said, highlighting the high standards expected at the club.
Looking ahead
Calafiori acknowledged the upcoming season could start slowly due to the lack of preparation time for key players. "I think it's going to be a tricky start to the season because of that," he said. "All the big teams are going to have this problem and of course we're still waiting for them I hope they're going to be really in form and ready to help us. In 10 days we're going to be playing the final so we need to be ready."
With the transfer window still open, Arsenal fans will be eager to see if the club can pull off these marquee signings. The potential addition of Guimaraes and Vinicius Jr would undoubtedly elevate the squad, but the challenges of integrating them quickly remain.
