Liverpool are yet to make a concrete move to land Riccardo Calafiori
Liverpool are in the transfer market for a central defender in the ongoing summer window following the club’s links with French prodigy Leny Yoro. However, they appear to have pivoted to Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori following his performances at the European Championships in Germany.
The Reds’ sporting director Richard Hughes is a longtime admirer of the Italian defender, per journalist Fabrizio Romano. Hughes is now one of the decision-makers behind the scenes at Anfield in the newly set-up team to assist Arne Slot in recruitment.
The 22-year-old defender, previously developed in the academies of Genoa and Basel before moving to Bologna last summer, has attracted interest from Premier League rivals Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and Manchester United. His stellar play throughout the year, especially at Euro 2024, has only enhanced his reputation. Italian media reports suggest Calafiori could command a transfer fee of €50 million (£42 million) as clubs line up to secure his services.
Director’s choice
Romano confirmed that the Liverpool sporting director holds Riccardo Calafiori in high regard, describing the 22-year-old as “one of the best” defenders since his days at Bournemouth. This longstanding admiration underscores the potential fit between Calafiori and Liverpool’s strategic needs.
However, despite the praise, direct contact between the club and the player has yet to be established. As the summer transfer window progresses, it remains to be seen if this admiration will materialize into a concrete attempt to secure his services.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with GIVEMESPORT, Fabrizio said:
“All these clubs have been scouting him because he’s been fantastic for Bologna, and also at the Euros for Italy, he is doing really well. For example, Liverpool director Richard Hughes, when he was at Bournemouth, used to scout Calafiori when he was playing for Roma and Basel.
“He is a player Hughes always appreciated, but at the moment, I am not aware of anything concrete between Liverpool and Bologna.”
Liverpool’s interest in Calafiori is clearly more than just speculative, given the specific praise from such a high level within the club. Given that Hughes is familiar with the Italian star’s progress, it is fair to say that he has a proper understanding of Caliofiri’s strengths and potential. This should aid us well if we do opt to make a move for his services. With Joel Matip gone, it is imperative that the Reds bring in another defender this summer. Caliofiri certainly fits that bill.
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Calafiori has shown exceptional abilities, which shows that if a move to Liverpool were to conclude, he would be a massive presence at the club. We will see if Liverpool’s interest in him amounts to anything this window. After all, at 22, he offers not only immediate quality but also long-term potential for development, aligning with Liverpool’s strategy of nurturing young talents to build a sustainable and competitive squad.
