Arsenal decide on Riccardo Calafiori sale as Inter Milan ready summer swoop
Arsenal are not willing to entertain any offers for defender Riccardo Calafiori this summer amid interest from Inter Milan, sources have told Football Insider.
The Italian giants have identified the 23-year-old as a candidate to come in and strengthen their squad ahead of next season, but the Gunners view him as being too important to let go.
The feeling behind the scenes at the Emirates Stadium is that the left-back has a huge future ahead of him, and sources say that he is expected to be “one of the first names on the team sheet” for Mikel Arteta once again next term.
Calafiori is also capable of operating in the centre of defence, and that versatility is a key reason why he is seen as such an important player for them.
Arsenal are planning to sell players this summer, but they have already made it clear that Calafiori will not be one of them, despite Inter preparing to try and make a move.
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VISIT THE ARSENAL TRANSFER HUBArsenal ready to respond to Inter scouting mission
Calafiori has started 18 Premier League games for Arsenal so far this season, as he has shared the left-back duties with Bayer Leverkusen loanee Piero Hincapie.
The Ecuadorian is set to join the North London outfit permanently at the end of the campaign, but that will not impact his counterpart’s future in any way.
| Stats | Calafiori | Hincapie |
| Apps | 22 | 21 |
| G/A | 3 | 3 |
| Accurate Passes per 90 | 34.5 | 39.6 |
| Chances Created per 90 | 0.31 | 0.72 |
| Duels Won per 90 | 5.69 | 5.09 |
| Tackles per 90 | 1.92 | 2.33 |
Inter have made checks on Calafiori of late, as their sporting director Piero Ausilio reportedly flew into London recently to watch both him and Tottenham goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario.
However, that scouting mission looks set to be a case of the Serie A side fighting a losing battle, with Arsenal prepared to reject any advances from them or other potential suitors this summer.
Arteta’s defence has been a key reason behind their strongest title push yet in 2025-26, and it is clear that he intends to try and keep the bulk of that unit intact long-term.
Gunners ready to sanction summer clearout
Football Insider revealed on Tuesday that Arsenal are ready to sell several of their fringe players in order to balance the books this summer, after a significant spend ahead of this season.
As a result, while Calafiori still has a key place in the plans at the Emirates, the same cannot be said of the likes of Ben White and Gabriel Jesus.
That duo have already been identified as prime candidates to be moved on ahead of next term, given the fact that they have started just seven Premier League games between them in 2025-26.
Significant interest is expected in the pair this summer, and Arsenal are ready to wave goodbye to both of them in a bid to raise funds for fresh additions.
That looks set to be a running theme for them this summer, with several more departures likely from the edges of Arteta’s group.
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