Liverpool on red alert as Arsenal make Riccardo Calafiori decision

With Italy's involvement at this summer's European Championships now over, the future of central defender Riccardo Calafiori can be resolved.

The holders crashed out of the tournament on Saturday after losing 2-0 at the hands of Switzerland - a game the 22-year-old did not feature in due to suspension but he was impressive throughout the group stages to enhance his reputation following a fine season with Bologna.

As a result, Calafiori is being linked with a big transfer this summer with Liverpool among the clubs linked with his signature along with Premier League rivals Chelsea as well as La Liga giants Real Madrid as claimed by Gazzetta dello Sport.

It's no secret that The Reds could do with bolstering their centre-back options after releasing Joel Matip on a free transfer and Calafiori ticks many boxes in terms of age and being a natural left-footer means he could be the long-term successor to Virgil van Dijk.

Of course, as interest in the Italy international is high, Liverpool will have to act fast to get a deal over the line and it just so happens that fellow Premier League outfit Arsenal have taken their first steps as Mikel Arteta aims to strengthen his squad at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal make Calafiori enquiry

As revealed by Journalist Fabrizio Romano, the Gunners are too interested in Calafiori and have made an enquiry to understand his situation.

"For Calafiori, Arsenal made an enquiry to understand the situation of the player. I mean, it’s also normal when you are looking for a left-footed player, a left-foot defender," Romano told GIVEMESPORT. "Riccardo Calafiori is one of the best available now on the market.

"So Arsenal have been showing their interest in the situation. But at the moment, it's not a negotiation. There is no bid, there is no contact with Bologna, so it's just an enquiry to understand the situation of Calafiori."

Crucially, for Liverpool, Arsenal's interest in the Bologna defender has not advanced past the enquiry stage. Having said that, the next few weeks could be crucial especially with no tournament distractions.