Report: Arsenal push to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Piero Hincapie

The Gunners have already spent heavily, bringing in seven new players for approximately 250 million pounds, but manager Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta are eager to add the versatile 23-year-old as their eighth signing.

Hincapie, who can shine as a centre-back or left-back, has emerged as a top target for Arsenal. The Ecuador international, who played a key role in Leverkusen's unbeaten Bundesliga triumph and German Cup victory in 2023-24, has agreed personal terms with the north London club, according to transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.

"Piero Hincapie has said yes to Arsenal and personal terms have been agreed, long term deal ready!" Romano posted on X. He added that Hincapie "favours AFC and is also seen as an ideal signing by Arteta."

However, sealing the deal hinges on Leverkusen's willingness to negotiate. The German champions are holding firm, demanding that Hincapie's 60-million-euro release clause be met for a permanent transfer, as reported by The Athletic and Sky Germany.

Arsenal, like rivals Tottenham Hotspur, who also showed interest, are pushing for a loan deal with an obligation to buy next summer to delay the financial hit. "Arsenal are now in direct talks with Bayer for Piero Hincapie deal after personal terms agreed," Romano noted, emphasizing that the "deal now depends on structure to be approved or not by Leverkusen."

The transfer's complexity is heightened by Arsenal's need to offload players to balance their squad and finances. Jakub Kiwior, a 25-year-old Polish defender, is at the centre of a potential move to FC Porto. The Portuguese club have proposed a loan with a 25-million-euro obligation to buy, a deal Kiwior has approved, per Romano's update on X.

However, Arsenal are holding off on finalizing Kiwior's exit until they secure Hincapie as his replacement. A private jet arranged to fly Kiwior to Portugal for a medical was cancelled on August 26, underscoring the deal's dependence on Arsenal's negotiations with Leverkusen, as reported by The Mirror.

Bayer Leverkusen's sporting director Simon Rolfes has downplayed speculation of an imminent transfer, stating on August 27, to German outlet Sport: "We still haven't received an official offer from any club, so he's our player. That's the status quo. Leverkusen naturally want to keep hold of Piero. He knows that we value him highly and is aware that we would like to see him continue with us."

This firm stance reflects Leverkusen's reluctance to lose another star after already parting with key players like Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka, and Jonathan Tah this summer.

Hincapie's emotional display after Leverkusen's 2-1 defeat to Hoffenheim on August 23, where he was seen in tears, has fueled speculation that he may have played his final game for the club, according to Bild.

Arsenal's pursuit is driven by Arteta's vision to bolster a defence already featuring Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, and new signing Cristhian Mosquera. Hincapie's ability to play multiple roles, including wing-back, makes him a perfect fit for Arsenal's tactical flexibility as they aim to end their 21-year Premier League title drought.

With the transfer deadline looming, Arsenal are exploring ways to lower Hincapie's fee below the 60-million-euro mark, but Leverkusen's resolve remains a significant hurdle.

The Gunners' ambitious summer, which has seen them spend over 200 million pounds on players like Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres, underscores their intent to challenge Manchester City. Whether they can convince Leverkusen to bend could define their defensive strength for the 2025-26 campaign.