Already, Riccardo Calafiori has indicated his preference for playing for two Premier League teams.

One of the most sought-after centre backs in soccer history, Riccardo Calafiori is being courted by many Premier League teams, including Liverpool; however, the Italian acknowledged that he was also interested in two other English teams.

Riccardo Calafiori, a target for Liverpool, has named Chelsea and West Ham as two Premier League teams he would like to play for.

While playing for Basel in 2022, the 22-year-old defender made the admission. Following that, he had a quick ascent at Bologna and Italy during the 2024 European Championship. Due to his stellar play over the past year, Liverpool, Arsenal, the Hammers, and Chelsea have all expressed interest in signing him.

The defender, who was Italy’s best player at the Euros until they lost to Switzerland in the Round of 16 and had to give up the European crown, was also linked to Juventus. “I see myself going back to Italy, either to Roma, or fulfilling my ambition of playing in the Premier League. “I truly enjoy Chelsea or West Ham,” Calafiori stated to Voce Giallo Rossa in 2022.

Despite Calafiori’s earlier positive declaration, the fact that neither club will be participating in Champions League football next season may work against them. Bologna, who will compete in Europe’s top club competition next season, is reportedly looking to sell their star defender for around $50 million. While all of the Premier League teams involved are able to pay the Italian club’s demands, only Liverpool and Arsenal can provide the dashing defender with Champions League football.

After finishing sixth in the Premier League under Mauricio Pochettino’s leadership the previous season, Chelsea will participate in the Europa Conference League the following year. After Manchester United’s FA Cup victory over Premier League winners Manchester City earlier this year, they were demoted to Europe’s third tier league.

In addition, the Hammers’ hopes of competing in Europe the next season under their new manager, Julen Lopategui, were dashed after they fell to Bayer Leverkusen in the Europa League quarterfinals, despite their strong start under David Moyes.

Basel, the defender’s last squad, is expected to get a substantial portion of whatever transfer money that Bologna pays for him. The entire amount is reportedly 40% of any fees over $6 million, which means the Swiss side will receive a huge financial windfall.

A vital component of Italy manager Luciano Spalletti’s strategy leading up to the 2026 World Cup—a tournament they haven’t participated in since 2014 in Brazil—will be Calafiori. Despite Italy’s miserable European title defence this summer, Spalletti will continue in his role.

Gabriele Gravina, chairman of Italy’s football federation, told reporters, “I’m pragmatic; it’s impossible to resolve problems by abandoning a long-term project or the coach and players involved in it.” Gravina continued: “We can’t expect a Kylian Mbappe or Cristiano Ronaldo to suddenly emerge, so we need to be patient.”

The Azzurri must rediscover who they are, according to Spalletti, the Italy manager who joined the team after guiding Napoli to a historic Serie A championship. “Clearly not, as we would be talking about something else if I had,” Spalletti remarked. “We need to start over from scratch because last night’s match dropped us back to zero.”

According to Liverpool.com, Calafiori will have no shortage of suitors if he decides to leave Bologna this summer or the following. The Champions League football played by the Reds and Arsenal will help them in the transfer market.