Arsenal have agreed a loan deal with an option to buy for Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen, with the Gunners set to bolster their defence ahead of the Premier League resumption
Arsenal have struck a deal to bring Piero Hincapie from Bayer Leverkusen to the Emirates. The Gunners are believed to have agreed a loan arrangement with the Bundesliga outfit, which includes an option to permanently sign the Ecuadorian international for £45million.
The transfer will see Mikel Arteta bolster his defensive ranks as sporting director Andrea Berta secures the club’s eighth summer signing. Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Christian Norgaard, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga, Cristhian Mosquera and Eberechi Eze have already made their way to north London.
Hincapie, 23, has amassed 166 appearances in all competitions for Leverkusen and clinched the Bundesliga title under Xavi Alonso in the 2023/24 season. Despite having a £50m release clause and a contract running until 2029, Arsenal have managed to negotiate a more affordable deal, fending off interest from Tottenham, Newcastle and Liverpool.
This agreement paves the way for Jakub Kiwior to make his move to Porto in the coming days. BBC reports that Hincapie is seen as a direct replacement for the departing Polish star.
With the final days of the transfer window approaching, Arsenal’s focus will now shift towards facilitating departures after a significant summer spending spree. The club is reportedly keen on adhering to UEFA’s squad cost ratio regulations, reports the Mirror.
Alongside Kiwior, Reiss Nelson could also be bidding farewell to the Emirates. The homegrown talent has been linked with moves to Fulham and Crystal Palace in recent months.
However, Gabriel Martinelli appears destined to remain, despite Eze’s arrival last week. Arteta confirmed the Brazilian stayed in his thoughts when questioned about the winger’s potential departure.
“No, and I think Gabi’s been a super important player for us and is going to remain to be very, very, very important,” he said in his press conference on Friday.
“And the fact that we have options with different qualities is going to fulfil what we want because every opponent is going to require different things. And then the state, the moment, the way that those players are impacting the game and that competition is needed.
“We’re having many other areas on the pitch and it’s needed, especially in the front line, to start the game and to finish the game. So I’m very happy with what we have.”
Meanwhile, young winger Ismeal Kabia is heading to Shrewsbury Town on a season-long loan arrangement. The Dutchman, who has already found the net and provided assists for the Gunners’ U21s in Premier League 2 this season, is now poised for his first taste of senior football in League Two.
It’s a straightforward loan agreement that will see Kabia return to north London at the campaign’s end. Kabia made the Arsenal bench last season during a 1-0 victory over north London rivals Tottenham.
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