Premier League side told to pay £20 million to sign defender Arsenal wanted last summer - Reports
Premier League outfit West Ham United have been told to pay £20 million if they wish to sign Kyle Walker-Peters, who was notably on Arsenal's radar a year ago. The Southampton full-back is easily one of the most exciting players in his position in England and the Hammers have taken an interest in him.
They were looking at a number of options, with players like Manchester United's Aaron Wan-Bissaka coming to mind. They also looked to sign Noussair Mazaraoui, but they were unable to convince the player to make the switch from Bayern Munich.
However, according to The Times (via TBR Football), West Ham have now set their sights on Kyle Walker-Peters. The right-back helped Southampton return to the Premier League, featuring in 46 Championship games as they secured their promotion.
The Hammers have gotten in contact with the Saints regarding the Arsenal target, and the newly promoted side have asked for £20 million in order to let him leave. The fee may be low because the right-back is currently in the final year of his contract, and if Southampton don't sell him soon, he could leave for free.
Riccardo Calafiori flies in for medicals with Arsenal
While Arsenal's interest in Kyle Walker-Peters may have cooled, they haven't stalled in their search for defensive reinforcements. This comes after a season where they finished second against an indomitable Manchester City side in what was their second consecutive finish right behind the champions.
Arsenal have opted to make a move for exciting Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, who impressed last season with Bologna. According to a report from Daily Mail, the 22-year-old Rome-born defender has flown into London to complete his medicals and sign for the Gunners.
This move has notably been praised by former Gunners defender Bacary Sagna, who said, in a conversation with Paddy Power (via GOAL):
"Riccardo Calafiori is very good – I've followed him a lot in Serie A this season. I’ve seen a lot of Bologna games, and he’s one of the reasons they were able to qualify for the Champions League.
"He’s calm and composed on the ball – he can break lines by committing and help the side out offensively. He’d be a fantastic player for Arsenal – any club he would join, he would be a fantastic addition.”
The Gunners will be hoping that Calafiori's addition will lead to winning trophies this season, as they continue their pursuit of other targets in the transfer market.