Real Madrid make contact with Arsenal player’s camp over transfer

Real Madrid have made direct contact with Riccardo Calafiori’s camp over a potential transfer, according to reports.

Fabrizio Romano reports that Real Madrid have made direct contact with Riccardo Calafiori’s camp, explaining on his YouTube channel that a few weeks ago the club spoke with those close to the player.

Real Madrid were only making enquiries at the time, and Romano stresses that Calafiori remains a very important player for Arsenal, he’s an important part of their project, and it wouldn’t be an easy deal to do.

But the La Liga club are certainly looking for a player in Calafiori’s mould, as they need cover at both centre-back and left-back.

Radio Marca and Okdiario journalist Ramon Alvarez de Mon had broken the news on his own YouTube channel that Jose Mourinho had asked Real Madrid to explore the signing of Calafiori from Arsenal.

Mourinho reportedly likes Calafiori a lot, given the defender’s versatility and age, and there’s a suggestion that perhaps the manager might view the fact that Arsenal have other left-back options like Piero Hincapie and Myles Lewis-Skelly as an opportunity to lure Calafiori away.

But any Arsenal fan would tell you that Calafiori is Mikel Arteta’s first-choice left-back when fully fit, and it’s only been the player’s injury problems keeping him out of the team at times.

It would be a major surprise to see Arsenal parting ways with Calafiori at this stage, when the player still has another three years on his contract and he’s only a couple of years into his spell with the club.

When available, the Italy international has performed well, so there will be no real desire on Arsenal’s part to sell so soon.

The only way it would make sense would be if it funded a deal that the club viewed as more important to the team’s success, but it’s not clear what that would be. For now, this transfer seems unlikely.

• Jose Mourinho left fuming as Vinicius Junior ban appeal rejected
  Jose Mourinho was left fuming after the decision to hand summer Arsenal target Vinicius Junior a four-match ban in midweek, with the winger to miss El Clásico.
• Ex-Spurs star defends former Arsenal midfielder
  Rafael van der Vaart has defended Fabio Vieira after a slow start to the midfielder’s second spell with Hamburger SV, who sit a few points clear of relegation in the Bundesliga.
• What Mikel Arteta really said about Arsenal’s job cuts
  Mikel Arteta has been widely misquoted by the media whilst talking about Arsenal’s decision to cut 60 jobs, with his words taken out of context to paint a different picture.
• Arsenal summer signing shines in 2-1 u18 north London derby win
  Arsenal summer signing Mylo Bernard scored a brace to help his new team come from behind to win the north London derby, despite two goalkeeper injuries.
• Arteta explains why Saliba was left out of team photo
  Mikel Arteta has explained why William Saliba was left out of Arsenal’s first-team squad photo, adding that they intend to take another one at some point.