Arsenal eye Leverkusen’s Hincapie in defensive search

Arsenal have identified Bayer Leverkusen’s Piero Hincapie as a potential addition to their backline before the transfer window shuts, Sport360NG reports.

The Ecuador international, valued at around €60m (£52m) due to a release clause in his contract, is understood to be open to leaving Leverkusen this summer.

Recruitment staff at the Emirates have monitored the 23-year-old closely, with Mikel Arteta prioritising a left-footed defender as part of his squad rebuild.

Since arriving in Germany in 2021, Hincapie has featured 166 times for Leverkusen and played a key role in last season’s domestic double, lifting both the Bundesliga title and the German Cup.

Arsenal have already invested more than £200m on new arrivals and are now looking to balance the books, with Fabio Vieira, Reiss Nelson and Oleksandr Zinchenko among those who could be moved on. Jakub Kiwior has also attracted interest, with Porto exploring a possible deal.

North London rivals Tottenham have previously been mentioned in connection with Hincapie, but sources suggest Spurs are not pursuing the defender at this stage.