Arsenal Green Light £45m Deal to Sign Piero Hincapie Permanently

Arsenal are set to make Piero Hincapie’s transfer from Bayer Leverkusen permanent this summer, according to reports.

The Gunners are preparing to activate their £45million option to sign the Ecuadorian on a long-term deal after impressing Mikel Arteta during his first six months at the Emirates.

Arsenal welcomed Hincapie on transfer deadline day in September, having beaten north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the 24-year-old’s signature.

Hincapie has made 15 starts in the Premier League so far this season and a further two in the Champions League.

Arsenal aim to sign Hincapie permanently

According to TEAMtalk, Arteta has made his intentions clear to trigger a permanent deal for Hincapie after the season, after being impressed with the Ecuadorian’s performances.

The Spanish coach is also happy with the way Hincapie has integrated into the team, having taken some time to adapt following his arrival at the end of the summer from Leverkusen.

Hincapie has started Arsenal’s last three Premier League games, including the 4-1 win over Tottenham in the north London derby, when he was chosen ahead of Ricardo Calafiori and Myles Lewis-Skelly.

The 24-year-old scored his first goal for the Gunners in the 2-2 draw against Wolves last week, having recorded his first assist against Brentford in the previous match.

Arsenal hold talks with Rafael Leao

Although the club still harbors hopes of a potential quadruple this season, Arsenal bosses are starting to plan what the team could look like next season.

The Gunners have reportedly named AC Milan star Rafael Leao as a potential target and have held initial discussions over a move for the Portuguese winger.

Leao will enter the final two years of his contract with Milan in June, and the Serie A side are said to be open to a sale if they receive an offer close to his €80m (£70m) valuation.

The 26-year-old is Milan’s top scorer in Serie A this season with eight goals.

How could Hincapie’s decision affect Lewis-Skelly?

As Arsenal plot a permanent move for Hincapie, we asked ChatGPT what impact the Ecuadorian’s stay could have on Lewis-Skelly, whose minutes have been limited this season:

• Minute competition – With Calafiori and Hincapie up the pecking order, Lewis-Skelly may struggle to find first-team opportunities next season.
• Loan or development path – Reduced immediate chances could make a loan more likely, allowing him to gain experience elsewhere.
• Long-term growth – Even though he now has limited minutes, training alongside established options could still help him develop and prepare for future opportunities.