Liverpool have hijacked Arsenal’s deal for Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori.
The Gunners have finally reached an agreement for Calafiori, who inspired at Euro 2024 despite Italy’s disappointing exit in the round of 16 against Switzerland.
Calafiori, who can play centre-back or left-back, also inspired Bologna’s 2023-24 crusade, making 33 appearances as the Serie A side qualified for the Champions League.
It appears that Arsenal will sign the 22-year-old worth around £42m, but Liverpool have been pleaded to make a delayed move for Calafiori via former Anfield star Didi Hamann.
Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate have formed a formidable central partnership at Liverpool, but Hamann believes Calafiori could start if he joins the club this summer.
“Riccardo Calafiori is a very intelligent player and he is so comfortable with the ball that it is unexpected that when he missed Italy’s match against Switzerland, they put in a terrible performance,” Hamann told Top Offshore Casinos.
“They were terrible from start to finish, terrible. This happened after a last-minute draw against Croatia.
“I think Virgil van Dijk said he wanted to stay and he wanted to be with his compatriot Arne Slot, he wanted him to go back to the winning tactic at Liverpool.
“Ibrahima Konate is a brilliant defender, but he has too many injuries, so Calafiori would be a great player depending on his cost.
“He is a player who would be a starter at Liverpool considering what he did for his club last season and for his country.
“He’s the type of player who makes your team better and that’s evident when you need to fight for trophies. “
Arne Slot will be in charge of Liverpool next season after the former Feyenoord boss replaced Jurgen Klopp at Anfield.
Hamann, who helped Liverpool win the Champions League in 2005, believes Slot faces “most work” in his first year on Merseyside.
“You can compare it to Arsene Wenger’s departure from Arsenal and Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure from Manchester United, but it has to be done,” he added.
“Some managers would possibly have been discouraged because following Klopp is almost impossible. But again, it’s an opportunity, it’s a possibility for Arne Slot.
“He thought that if he refused, he might never have the chance to manage Liverpool again.
“So he has every right to take on the task and be confident in his own talents and so far he’s saying the right things. I like what I see.
“At first I think that it doesn’t matter who goes, because next year it’s almost impossible. But the more I think about it, the more I listen and see what he says, the more confident I feel because he turns out to be a very humble and general guy.
“I think maybe the only thing that opposes him is expectations. I think I probably have to deal with it somehow, which is very tricky because if enthusiasts think we finished in the top 3 most sensible or won a trophy, it’s very hard to make them think otherwise.
“But I think the expectations might be too high for what they can or want to accomplish next season. “
Former Liverpool goalkeeper David James spoke about Slot’s task as he looks to update Klopp and compete with Manchester City and Arsenal for the title.
“Liverpool had a succession plan for Jurgen Klopp, Arne didn’t come in at the last minute, so I think he’ll be the right person,” the former England goalkeeper told Genting Casino.
“Liverpool have controlled things in terms of signing players, so I’m convinced it will be the same with the manager.
“From the fragments I’ve heard and read, there’s confidence and positivity around Arne, as well as realism. Jurgen has done very well with Liverpool, he has won a lot and it will be very difficult to update Jurgen as a character.
“Arne may not be Jurgen Klopp in the way he speaks, but he can bring to a very talented player organisation something that Jurgen couldn’t do.
“That missing element is a number of Premier League titles and I think there’s an expectation that an organisation of Liverpool players will be more successful in the Premier League than they are.
“I know Manchester City have been excellent, but they have brought them so close time and time again that an improvement would be like winning Premier League trophies.
“I think they have the right user, everything I’ve noticed suggests that they’re going to gain a point of honesty that will force them to play at their most productive point of football.
“If you have players of that quality who are betting on their game point, Liverpool enthusiasts will be happy. “
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