Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen still apart on Hincapie but new meeting planned

Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen remain locked in discussions over a potential deal for Piero Hincapie, but progress has been limited so far. The Ecuadorian defender has already informed his current club of his desire to leave in this transfer window, and while Leverkusen are open to the move, the terms of the agreement remain unresolved.

Hincapie had been strongly linked with a switch to Tottenham earlier in the summer, but Arsenal’s entrance into the race altered the landscape significantly. The Gunners now appear to be leading the chase, making this transfer theirs to finalise should talks move forward.

Arsenal’s Plans for Defensive Reinforcements

Hincapie is regarded by the Arsenal hierarchy as a replacement for Jakub Kiwior, who has already reached an agreement to join FC Porto. The Gunners, however, are reluctant to sanction Kiwior’s departure until progress is made with Hincapie. This highlights the importance of securing the defender before the window closes.

Both clubs held fresh talks yesterday, but a key stumbling block remains the valuation of the player. Arsenal are unwilling to meet the full release clause, preferring to negotiate a lower fee, whereas Leverkusen continue to insist that his clause must be paid in full. Until this gap is bridged, no agreement can be finalised.