Riccardo Calafiori is pleased to see Arsenal on the verge of signing Bruno Guimaraes and linked with Vinicius Jr, saying the Gunners need to sign players that will improve their Premier League winning team.
A deal to bring Guimareas to the Emirates from Newcastle is close to being completed after a £75 million fee was agreed.
The Brazilian made it clear to the Magpies that he wanted to make the move to north London and the clubs met in the middle of Arsenal’s opening bid of £70m and Newcastle’s valuation of £80m.
The midfielder is unlikely to be the only major arrival at Arsenal this summer, with Mikel Arteta intent on adding a left-winger to his squad as well.
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The biggest name linked with filling that role is another Brazilian, Real Madrid superstar Vinicius Jr.
It is an incredibly ambitious move from the Gunners to try and bring Vini Jr to the Premier League, but one they are working on as Real Madrid try to tie him up to a new contract.
Calafiori is pleased to see that his club is aiming big in the transfer market, believing it is the way to improve on last season which saw them win the Premier League and reach the Champions League final.
On moves for the likes of Guimaraes and Vinicius Jr, the Italy international told Sky Sports: ‘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 deal for Guimaraes is expected to be confirmed imminently, but hopes of signing Vinicius Jr have taken a hit after Real Madrid improved their contract offer to the forward.
His current deal expires next summer, so he could depart on a free transfer if he does not sign the new contract or pursue a move to Arsenal, who are ready to offer him very attractive terms.
Many of Arsenal’s own top players are yet to rejoin the rest of the squad after the World Cup, with the Community Shield against Manchester City just 10 days away.
Calafiori played in a 3-1 friendly defeat to Real Betis on Wednesday and admits it is going to be difficult as the season gets underway after disrupted summer preparation.
‘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.’
It may only have been a friendly and Arsenal were without a number of big name players, but Arteta admitted that the mood was not good after defeat to Real Betis in Dublin.
‘Very upset, given a hard time. They are fuming, but this is good. That’s what we need,’ he said.
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