ARSENAL are interested in activating the £52m release clause of Bayer Leverkusen defender Piero Hincapie.
However, the Gunners will need to confirm the exit of centre back Jakub Kiwior BEFORE the deal goes ahead.
Shutterstock EditorialPiero Hincapie wants to leave Bayer Leverkusen[/caption]
SunSport understands that Arsenal are struggling to find suitors to take Kiwior off their hands – valuing the Polish international at around £25m after landing him for £20m including add-ons in January 2023.
Porto remain interested in Kiwior, but need to sell first in order to fund that capture.
SunSport understands the Portuguese giants are in talks to sell 18-year-old wonderkid Rodrigo Mora – who has a £60m release clause – to Saudi side Al Ittihad.
Should that deal go through in the coming days, Kiwior, 25, remains a top target for Porto, who are looking for a left-footed centre back who can also play at full-back.
However, Porto are also eyeing up a winger and a midfielder to bolster their squad before the window closes in seven days’ time.
Arsenal are believed to be continuing talks with Porto to try and find a compromise. A permanent switch is preferred, but a loan with an obligation to buy has not been ruled out.
Hincapie, 23, would be a like-for-like replacement for Kiwior. The Ecuadorian – who is also left-footed – has a contract until 2029 but is keen to leave Leverkusen this summer.
Tottenham have also previously shown an interest, but SunSport understands the North Londoners are NOT in the running, meaning they will not be hijacked by their rivals again after losing out on the £68m deal for Crystal Palace’s Eberechi Eze last week.
BEST ONLINE CASINOS – TOP SITES IN THE UK
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has spoken previously of wanting two first-team-quality players per position, and Hincapie would join a four-strong centre back grouping alongside William Saliba, Gabriel and Cristhian Mosquera in the squad.
Should Hincapie arrive at the Emirates, it would be Arsenal’s EIGHTH signing of the summer, taking their total spend to well over £300m – a record under Arteta.
They have already brought in Eze, Mosquera, Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Kepa Arrizabalaga and Christian Norgaard.
Arsenal’s first-team squad currently has 29 players, which needs to be trimmed before the end of the window.
Oleksandr Zinchenko is also linked to a move away with Porto monitoring the situation of the £25m-rated left-back, while Fabio Vieira is also seen as a potential sale.
Portuguese midfielder Vieira is valued at £25m. German outfit Stuttgart were interested in a £17m move, but after these talks broke down, they are now looking at other targets.
TRANSFER NEWS LIVE – KEEP UP WITH ALL THE LATEST FROM A BUSY SUMMER WINDOW
Creator – [#item_custom_dc:creator]