How it felt to see Messi first

Real Madrid's top 25 players of the 21st century - ranked

Arsenal's 10 best signings under Edu - ranked

Caicedo's revival is real - but Garnacho's impressing no one

Garnacho wasteful again as Man Utd defence impresses

Revealed: Two clubs triggered Amorim's €10m clause before Man Utd

Eight players Man Utd must axe for Amorim to succeed

Haaland toothless as City surrender top spot

Sublime Salah's moment of magic sends Liverpool top

Chelsea's £107m problem: Enzo Fernandez is having a nightmare

Frank says he may lose 'interest' in Brentford after Man Utd links

Article continues belowArticle continues belowArticle continues below<ul><li>Arsenal want to sign more players</li><li>Close to finalising Calafiori transfer </li><li>Arteta keen on increasing squad strength </li></ul><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script>

'We need to upgrade everything' - Mikel Arteta outlines Arsenal's transfer plans as Gunners close in on Italy star Riccardo Calafiori

Champions League

Inter

Arsenal

Per <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5648360/2024/07/24/riccardo-calafiori-arsenal-transfer-update/" target="_blank">The Athletic</a>, the Gunners are on the verge of sealing the transfer of Bologna and Italy defender Calafiori in the ongoing summer transfer window as they have <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/arsenal-reach-full-agreement-sign-riccardo-calafiori-bologna-deal-italy-star-expected-join-gunners-us-tour/blt45425f7c12805764#cs2356eee15c1cb3df" target="_blank">reportedly agreed to pay a fee of £42 million ($54.3m)</a> to the Serie A club.

WHAT HAPPENED?

With the 22-year-old centre-back's transfer all but sealed, the North London giants will now look to add more players to their roster ahead of the upcoming 2024/25 campaign as hinted by Mikel Arteta. The Spanish coach claimed that the club still need more players to increase the squad strength so that they can compete for the Premier League title once again with holders Manchester City this season.

THE BIGGER PICTURE

Speaking to reporters, the 42-year-old said, "We know there are certain positions that we want to improve and give the squad better resources, especially in terms of numbers where we are very short. We will try our best but the main thing is to focus on falling in love with the players we have and make them better." He added, "Perfection in this league requires different standards to relate that word to winning the Premier League. That’s what we need to do, we need to upgrade everything we're doing and improve in every area. That’s what we're trying to do. We are so close. There are moments where we had really fine margins. We have earned to be there, and obviously, we want much more and we are going to try to get it."When you are so close, you really want to grab it. But I think you have to analyse the whole thing. “In the end, the outcome of this football club has to be to win major trophies, and we are in the process to achieve that - we are very close. The level that we are showing is extremely high, but it’s not been enough to win it. That’s the target. We’re certainly heading in the right direction and we are travelling at a really high speed with the things that we have transformed not only in the football side, but I think as a club as well. Now what is missing is to bring the big titles back home."

WHAT MIKEL ARTETA SAID

The English giants have been linked with a move for Real Sociedad's Mikel Merino and Athletic Club's Nico Williams as they look to bolster their midfield and attack respectively. They will be next seen in action on Wednesday against Bournemouth in their <a href="https://www.goal.com/en/lists/arsenal-preseason-2024-tour-fixtures-results-tickets-how-to-watch/blt0f428044212732e7" target="_blank">first pre-season friendly in the United States</a>.

WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

'We need to upgrade everything' - Mikel Arteta outlines Arsenal's transfer plans as Gunners close in on Italy star Riccardo Calafiori | Goal.com Singapore

Mikel Arteta hints at signing more players as Arsenal close in on roping in Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori.