Arsenal are pursuing Ecuadorian defender Piero Hincapié and aim to pay less than his reported £52m release clause. Hincapié has expressed a desire to leave Bayer Leverkusen. Any transfer is said to depend on Arsenal selling players, with Porto interested in Jakub Kiwior and other potential departures including Oleksandr Zinchenko, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson before the September 1 deadline. Hincapié signed a two-year contract extension until 2029 and described Leverkusen as like a family, praising the fans and team unity. Leverkusen have called him tough-tackling and versatile, with sporting director Simon Rolfes noting his confidence and respect among world-class players.
When he signed a two-year contract extension until 2029 in December, Hincapie called Leverkusen "like a family to me". "This signature is more than just signing a contract," he told Leverkusen's website. "The club and the fans are special and we have a team who showed [during their 2023/24 title win] what's possible when you unconditionally stick together. "I'm really happy that people are pleased with me and giving me the chance to continue to help shape the future of this club."
Leverkusen praised Hincapie as "tough-tackling and versatile", while managing director for sport Simon Rolfes, who oversaw the £7m deal to sign him from Argentinian club Talleres in 2021, namechecked eight-time Ballon d'Or winner Lionel Messi and four-time Premier League golden boot winner Mohamed Salah, of Liverpool. "Piero Hincapie came to us as a 19-year-old in 2021 but even then we could see the confidence he has in his abilities," said Rolfes.
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