Before deadline day, Arsenal are now hoping to execute a deal to sign Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.
As things stand, Arsenal have Gabriel Magalhaes, Riccardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly to cover the left centre-back and left-back roles.
Of course, that’s if you discount Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko – two left-sided defenders Arsenal are keen to move on.
And with Kiwior nearing a move to FC Porto, cogs are starting to turn towards Arsenal potentially being able to bring Piero Hincapie in.
Selling Zinchenko could be difficult for Arsenal, but if the former Manchester City star does find a new club before the deadline, it might be best for all parties.
Arsenal have been scouting Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie for years
That being said, journalist David Ornstein has just provided an interesting update on Arsenal’s interest in Hincapie on ‘The Athletic FC Podcast’.
Ornstein spoke about Arsenal’s intention to sign Hincapie, which is already widely known.
But interestingly, the journalist then said that Arsenal had been high on the club’s agenda for ‘some years now’, suggesting that Mikel Arteta might be driving the Gunners’ interest.
Piero Hincapie in action for Bayer Leverkusen
Photo by Rene Nijhuis/MB Media/Getty Images
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Ornstein said: “They’re getting on with business now, so yeah, we could see Hincapie arrive. That’s something that’s being worked on, but it’s not done yet.
“Let’s see if it does materialize before the deadline, it could go quite far down. They want him, he wants them, but there’s €60m release clause and Leverkusen probably want that met.
“Efforts are being made to try and explore whether a lower fee that’s deemed more realistic at this stage of the market can be satisfactory to all parties.
“It will likely depend on space being made as well as finances – so Kiwior is being pursued by Porto.”
He then also added: “Hincapie is not a new target. He’s been very high on Arsenal’s recruitment list for some years now, even though he’s still at a young age.”
Piero Hincapie would represent a solid upgrade on Jakub Kiwior
New sporting director Andrea Berta is having a positive impact at Arsenal this summer, and there was some suggestion that he was driving the club’s pursuit of Viktor Gyokeres.
However, if Hincapie has been a target for years, that predates Berta’s arrival.
"He is a very solid, very good option" 💪
Julien Laurens thinks that Piero Hincapie would be a good signing for Arsenal 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/GBUu6FXq6r
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) August 27, 2025
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Therefore, Hincapie might be a player who Arteta has been championing behind the scenes, or perhaps he was even a target established by Edu Gaspar.
Either way, it’s clear to see why Hincapie will be an excellent addition for Arsenal, and judging by his performances in the Bundesliga, he would be an upgrade on Kiwior.
Kiwior was excellent against Real Madrid last season, but he’s never really put any pressure on Gabriel’s starting spot, even if that might be difficult for Hincapie too.
But all that being said, Bayer Leverkusen’s director wants Hincapie to stay, and a deal to take the Ecuadorian to Arsenal is still not close.