Arsenal Pushes for Hincapie Deal Before Transfer Window Shuts

As the summer 2025/26 transfer window draws to a close, Arsenal appear to be ramping up their ambition to sign high-quality players and address gaps in their defensive line. The club has recently re-established contact with Bayer Leverkusen to inquire about the availability of their key defender, Piero Hincapie, who is also a target for several other major European clubs.

Based on their performances in the last two matches, Arsenal are reportedly unimpressed with the duo of Jakub Kiwior and Oleksandr Zinchenko and are prepared to sell both for the right offers. The 25-year-old Kiwior is said to be a target for several clubs in Germany and Portugal, while Zinchenko has yet to receive any concrete bids.

If both players were to leave this summer, Arsenal would face a squad depth issue that must be resolved to ensure they remain strong enough to compete at the top of the Premier League in the 2025/26 season. Among the many options available, Hincapie is statistically the only one who optimally meets the need for both a centre-back and a full-back simultaneously.

Having played a total of 166 games as a regular since 2021, including a crucial role in Leverkusen’s 2024 Bundesliga title win, Hincapie has established himself as a key figure. And there are only so little scenarios to possibly see him go for anything less than their asking price, which is currently estimated at €60 million.

This valuation is most likely still within the accepted budget which Arsenal have set aside for a final major signing. Although Hincapie himself has stated he is very open to playing outside the Bundesliga this season, Arsenal’s management will still have to go the extra mile to secure the signature of the 23-year-old.

Boniface could follow

In addition to Hincapie, Leverkusen is also likely to lose another important player before the 2025/26 transfer window closes. Another top candidate that springs to mind is none other than the striker Victor Boniface, who competed with veteran Patrik Schick for a starting spot last season.

In the last few hours, the Nigerian striker has reportedly failed to reach an agreement with AC Milan for several reasons, one of which was a medical exam that did not meet the required standards. Leverkusen have confirmed his return, stating that the 24-year-old striker will be back to BayArena to train with the rest of the team shortly.

Nevertheless, Boniface and his agent still intend to leave Germany and have likely received new offers after the move to Milan collapsed. Therefore, they are expected to remain active until the transfer window officially closes.

There is also a possibility that Leverkusen will be unwilling to sell these players and may instead offer them improved contracts to extend. The recent departures of key players like Granit Xhaka, Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Amine Adli have left manager Erik ten Hag’s squad depth at a concerning level for the upcoming Bundesliga campaign. Thus, selling any more important players a significant consideration for the club.

Both Hincapie and Boniface remain targets for clubs outside the Bundesliga. However, the shifting tactical trend that demands more flexible defenders undoubtedly makes Hincapie the top priority.