Tottenham establish contact to sign Riccardo Calafiori

Premier League heavyweights Tottenham Hotspur have reportedly contacted Bologna and the entourage of 22-year-old Italian international Riccardo Calafiori.

According to Italian journalist Orazio Accomando, Riccardo Calafiori is the subject of interest from Tottenham Hotspur. The North London giants are scouring the market for a centre-back heading into the summer transfer window. They have thus identified the 22-year-old as a target, contacting his representatives and Serie A club Bologna over a possible move.

The Riccardo Calafiori story

Riccardo Calafiori has been one of the best young defenders in Serie A since joining Bologna from FC Basel last summer. A native of Rome, he spent his formative years in his homeland before graduating from the youth division at AS Roma a few years ago.

However, the move to FC Basel helped Calafiori find a stable footing before he saw his stock skyrocket during his one-year spell with Bologna thus far. The 22-year-old has turned out 33 times thus far for the Rossoblu, chipping in with two goals while playing his part in the Serie A club qualifying for the UEFA Champions League.

Meanwhile, Riccardo Calafiori’s exploits with Bologna have helped him establish a foothold in the Italian national team and started the Azzurri’s UEFA Euro 2024 campaign-opening game against Albania. The youngster’s progress has not gone unnoticed, capturing the attention of several high-profile Premier League clubs, including Tottenham Hotspur.

London calling?

Tottenham Hotspur’s interest in Riccardo Calafiori is understandable. The North London giants want another centre-back despite signing Micky van de Ven and Radu Dragusin in the last 12 months. However, with Eric Dier facing an uncertain future at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, they can do with a new central defender.

Calafiori has thus emerged as a viable target, with Tottenham contacting Bologna and the Italian defender’s representatives over a possible summer move. However, recent reports have claimed that the youngster wants to stay in Italy beyond the summer transfer window.

So, Tottenham might have an uphill task to turn Riccardo Calafiori’s head amid the emerging links with several other clubs. It will be interesting to see where the 22-year-old Italian international plies his trade in the 2024/25 season.